The Surrey Hills landscape is made up of a patchwork of different character areas each one distinctive with its own identity and set of features. Farming has played a central role in shaping this landscape, although only 40% of the Surrey Hills is designated as agricultural land. Traditional mixed farming creates a beautiful and forever changing landscape. The seasonal cycle of ploughing, drilling seeds and harvesting provides a valuable habitat for many species of farmland birds like the peewit, skylark and barn owl.