On 8th May 200 guests of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Board, in the company of the Surrey Hills patron, Penelope Keith, were at a celebration event on the Terrace of the House of Commons to mark the 50th anniversary of the AONB. Hosted by Mole Valley MP, Sir Paul Beresford, and supported by construction experts, the Ringway Group, principal guests also included the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Sarah Goad, and the High Sheriff Sally Varah.
Speaking at the event, the Surrey Hills patron Penelope Keith said: “I am delighted to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Surrey Hills AONB. Over the five years for which I have been patron of the Surrey Hills, I have worked to raise awareness of a landscape that has inspired some of the country’s greatest artists and writers, including George Eliot, John Keats and Ralph Vaughan Williams. You leave London and you are very quickly in deep countryside. People don’t realise they have such amazing landscapes on their doorstep. Our countryside is something we have to guard very jealously indeed and I hope to see the Surrey Hills AONB continuing to protect this wonderful part of England well into the future.”
Jerry Pert, area director for Ringway’s Highways Services, said: “The Surrey Hills is a very special part of the countryside and Ringway is committed to playing its part in keeping it special. We are Surrey County Council’s preferred contractor to improve services and safety for road users over much of the Surrey Hills AONB and Ringway’s sustainability strategy requires that we take full account of the environmental, social and economic impacts of our activities. In our work we are mindful of the need to protect and, where possible, enhance the environment of the Surrey Hills.”
Michael Sydney, chairman of the Surrey Hills Board, then told guests: “The Surrey Hills AONB stretches across a quarter of the county of Surrey. It was one of the first areas of designated countryside but our work in maintaining this special part of the South East needs to be more focused than ever, and it is critical that we look ahead and face the challenges of ensuring the Surrey Hills are protected for our children, and their children, to enjoy. Our golden anniversary celebrations give us good reason to reflect on the success and the history of countryside protection. The Surrey Hills are much loved by millions of people and many sites have been highly popular visitor destinations for all of the 50 years and longer. One of the outcomes we want from our celebrations is to see local people and especially children understand how their communities and landscapes have been shaped by farming and food production over many years.”
Michael Sydney pointed out that the purpose of designation was to conserve and enhance the AONB's natural beauty and this was of particular importance for the Surrey Hills when it was designated because of its proximity to London. AONBs are also designated to meet the need for quiet enjoyment of the countryside and to have regard for the interests of those who live and work there.