Latest News
Restoration of the A3 back to naturePosted On: 08/11/2026
A large group of members and guests gathered outside the Punch Bowl Cafe on a misty Saturday afternoon and were led along the route of the old A3 by National Trust Lead Ranger, Matt Cusack. Matt gave everyone a fascinating insight behind the scenes into the tunnel’s inception and construction, and the subsequent challenges returning […]
Read MoreGuided fungus walk on Marley CommonPosted On: 25/10/2026
On a sunny October Sunday afternoon, an enthusiastic group joined the Black Down & Hindhead Supporters Group’s guided fungus walk over Marley, kindly led by the hugely knowledgeable local naturalist, Andy Swan.
Read MoreMore water voles released onto the River WeyPosted On: 18/09/2026
The latest phase of River Wey water vole releases was completed in September, part of a long term project led by the National Trust, Environment Agency, River Wey Trust and SE Rivers Trust, and supported by the Black Down & Hindhead Supporters. Many of the project partners were involved in the release, helping to place […]
Read MoreEmley Farm BarnsPosted On: 22/07/2026
The Committee were treated to a view inside the beautifully restored barns at Emley Farm that date back centuries. The Black Down & Hindhead Supporters provided match funding releasing a major grant to allow the critical restoration to take place to these historically irreplaceable farm buildings.
Read MoreRestoring Beavers to Regenerate LandscapesPosted On: 16/06/2026
At our 2026 Educate and Inspire lecture Ben Morris, Senior Field Officer for the Beaver Trust, gave a fascinating talk about the secret, and not so secret, lives of beavers. His colourful slides illustrated their habits of foraging, digging and damming that characterise their ecosystem engineer status, enriching habitat complexity and biodiversity, and reducing flood […]
Read MoreWater voles released in Farnham after 20 year absence!Posted On: 02/06/2026
Black Down and Hindhead Supporters helped fund the project leading to this magical moment on 1st June beside the River Wey in the middle of Farnham as the early evening traffic queued on the bridge above. Each box containing a single water vole was carefully lowered down to the water level allowing the animal to […]
Read MoreBlack Down BirdsPosted On: 25/05/2026
Crossbills, cuckoos and redstarts were among the many birds found on a morning walk over Black Down on Friday 22nd May. Several members of the Black Down & Hindhead Supporters met at 8am at the car park and were guided around the site by local expert Paul Matson, skillfully pointing out each of the birds […]
Read MoreChichester Natural History Society tour of the Punch BowlPosted On: 17/04/2026
Members of the Supporters Committee joined Lead Ranger Matt Cusack, giving Chichester Natural History Society a guided tour of the Devil’s Punch Bowl. Members of ChiNATS last visited the site nine years ago and were keen to see the changes. Robins, willow warblers and goldfinch joined the chorus of spring birdsong; and bilberry, celandine and […]
Read MoreTwo more ponies!Posted On: 25/03/2026
With funds from the Hindhead and Black Down Supporters, there are now two more young ponies in the Punch Bowl doing great work grazing and controlling scrub re-growth after the significant clearance works carried out over the winter.
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 […]
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