The Sheepleas

The Sheepleas

102.61 ha (253.55 acres).  Owned by Surrey County Council and managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust.
Map Location TQ 084 514.
SSSI and LNR.

The 300 acres of Sheepleas lie on the chalk slopes of the North Downs within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site is a mosaic of woodlands (both ancient and recent) and grassland. This mixture of habitats supports a huge diversity of wildlife, and as a result has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Some of the woods have probably been here for at least 400 years. These ancient woodlands are carpeted with bluebells in Spring.

Elsewhere the larch is gradually being removing and trees planted that are more appropriate for this area, like beech, oak, field maple and wild cherry. Wild service and whitebeam are berry-bearing trees to look out for.

Trees in some parts of Sheepleas are coppiced (the stems are cut close to ground level every few years). This traditional form of management provides poles for a variety of uses, including fencing and charcoal production. You may see charcoal being produced on-site.

During the great storm of 1987 many old beech trees blew down. Although the storm seemed catastrophic at the time, it opened up new areas for meadow flowers to grow. Many tree stumps have been left to rot. This returns nutrients to the soil and provides a habitat for insects and fungi.

Car parks off A246, (behind West Horsley church), 1/2 mile south on Shere Road and 1/2 mile south on Green Dene.   Get the Visitor Guide here