Latest News
Date announced for guided bird walk on Black Down – Friday 22nd May 8amPosted On: 15/02/2026
Join local bird expert Paul Matson for a morning stroll over Black Down on Friday 22nd May, listening and looking for the special birds that inhabit this extensive woodland and heathland nature reserve. Places are limited, so please email the walk organiser, Peter, to book a space: admin@blackdownhindheadntsupporters.org
Read MoreHaslemere Charities FairPosted On: 30/11/2025
Members of the Committee enjoyed meeting many of the hundreds of people who attended the Haslemere Charities Fair in November 2025 at Haslemere Hall. Visitors to our stand were intrigued by the little chips of wood we had brought along – gnawed from stream-side trees by the beavers who now reside in Valewood, carefully tending […]
Read MoreWater Voles Return to the River WeyPosted On: 02/09/2025
Water voles are being returned to the River Wey catchment, having previously been declared locally extinct. They’re key to riverside biodiversity and amazing ecosystem engineers, but they’re also Britain’s fastest declining mammal. The Black Down & Hindhead Supporters have been helping the local National Trust rangers and the partners in this exciting project and our […]
Read MoreAll about the Devil’s Punch BowlPosted On: 14/07/2025
Supporters and friends explored the Devil’s Punch Bowl, strolling along cool shady paths on a hot and sunny July Sunday, soaking up some of the extensive knowledge of the area being shared by local National Trust volunteer, Arthur. Butterfly sightings included a rare close view of a purple hairstreak that had descended from its usual […]
Read MoreNew Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve declaredPosted On: 29/06/2025
Great news for the National Trust’s Black Down and Devil’s Punch Bowl and several other local heathland sites that were declared on 27th June 2025 as the “Wealden Heaths NNR”: England’s newest National Nature Reserve as part of the King’s Series of NNRs. This brings together 2,766 hectares of nature reserves managed by the National […]
Read MoreNightjars in the evening skiesPosted On: 26/06/2025
A group assembled at Black Down on the evening of 25th June and were led along the heathland tracks as darkness fell. They were treated to the magical sound of nightjars churring in declaration of their territories, and to the sight of these rare birds flying against the inky blue sky. Nightjars are summer visitors […]
Read MoreWandering the Swan Barn Farm meadowsPosted On: 25/06/2025
Andy Swan led a group of enthusiastic Black Down & Hindhead National Trust Supporters through the tranquil meadows of Swan Barn Farm on a sunny June Sunday. A stone’s throw from Haslemere High Street, just past the old town well, pretty assemblages of wild flowers give an indication of the varied underlying geology and ground […]
Read MoreCastle Copse discoveriesPosted On: 06/06/2025
Newcastle University’s Professor of Archaeology, Sam Turner, gave a fascinating talk to members and guests of the Black Down & Hindhead Supporters on 4th June. Recent excavations, funded by the Supporters, revealed the presence of an Iron Age fort / settlement on Castle Copse, a recently acquired part of the National Trust’s Black Down estate. It […]
Read MoreRecognition for the Emley Farm barn restoration projectPosted On: 15/04/2025
The Emley Farm barns restoration project won a special Highly Commended award at the Surrey Historic Buildings Trust ceremony on 9th April. In the auspicious surroundings of the Wotton House library, there was a great sense of expectation among the supporters of the nine short-listed projects, and delight in the Emley team as the winners […]
Read More2024 Photo competition winnersPosted On: 03/02/2025
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2024 photographic competition. Jane Puttock won the adult first prize with her magical photo of lichen at Swan Barn Farm, and Sarah Stansbury won the Junior category with a scene of tranquility at one of the Black Down viewpoint benches. We are grateful once more to our lead […]
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