Norbury Park, Leatherhead, Surrey
The 531 hectares at Norbury Park cover a varied landscape but one that’s very natural and managed as a nature reserve by Surrey Wildlife Trust. It’s a mix of chalk grassland, woodland, farmland, and a river valley, and there’s a working sawmill. Needless to say Norbury Park is home to an abundance of wildlife including roe deer, badgers, foxes, woodpeckers, pipistrelle and noctule bats, whitethroat, blackcap and fieldfare, as well as swans, little egrets and kingfishers on the river.
They say the yew trees in the Druid’s Grove are over 3,000 years old, among the oldest in the country so make sure you see that because it’s something else indeed. What you should do is take a picnic with you, you know, big thick egg sandwiches, sausage rolls and lashings of lemonade, and find a quiet spot to spread your rug and enjoy it.
Be mindful that there may be cattle grazing in some areas, so dogs must be kept under control.
Open 24/7. There are 3 car parks – at Fetcham, Young Street off the A246, and at Crabtree Lane in Westhumble.
All information correct at the time of writing