Surrey

I

Introduction

Surrey, county, south-eastern England, bounded by Buckinghamshire to the north, by Greater London to the north-east, Kent to the east, East Sussex and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and the unitary authorities of Bracknell Forest, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Slough to the west. The county contains much pleasant countryside, but is also fairly heavily populated, with large numbers of London commuters among its residents. Surrey's present borders date back to the local government reorganization of 1974. Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames were added from Middlesex, but about one-eighth of the county's previous area was absorbed into Greater London, and a small section was also allocated to West Sussex. The area of the county is 1,677 sq km (648 sq mi).

II

Land and Resources

Much of Surrey consists of undulating lowlands, with a base of various clays, but it is crossed in the north from east to west by the chalk ridge of the North Downs, which reaches a height of 182 m (596 ft) at Box Hill. Part of the ridge forms the Hog's Back, the long hill running from Guildford to Farnham. In the hilly south, a band of greensand uplands, again running from east to west, includes Leith Hill, the highest point in south-east England, at 294 m (965 ft). The main rivers are the Wey, on which Guildford stands, on the western side of the county, and the Mole on the eastern side. Both rivers flow northwards to join the River Thames. The Surrey Hills, an area to the east and south of Guildford including the Hog's Back and the ridge of the North Downs, has been designated by the Countryside Agency as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The climate of Surrey is mild. The average annual rainfall over the county is in the region of 635 to 760 mm (25 to 30 in) in the north, rising to 760 to 1,000 mm (30 to 40 in) in the hilly south.

III

Wildlife

Near Godstone a nature reserve is renowned as a bird sanctuary, and Headley Heath, just north of Box Hill, is the haunt of a great variety of small animals and birds. The Thursley reserve, a short distance south-west of Godalming, is noted for the birds of prey that can be seen there, such as kestrels, merlins, and peregrine falcons. Nearby are the Frensham Ponds, where waterfowl congregate. There are nature trails in the Devil's Punchbowl, near Hindhead, a deep valley eroded in the sandstone by the action of natural springs. In the land surrounding Holmbury Hill, which is 261 m (857 ft) high, foxes and deer, magpies, larks, and Britain's only poisonous snake, the adder, may all be encountered. Trees and plants, both common and exotic, are to be seen at the Winkworth Arboretum, near Godalming, at the Wisley Gardens, near Ripley, and at the Claremont Landscape Garden, near Esher.

IV

Population and Administration

The population of Surrey is around 1,059,015 (2001). The main towns are Guildford (2001, 129,717), Woking (2001, 89,836), Epsom and Ewell (2001, 67,075), and Reigate (1991, 64,589). Other towns of note include Camberley, Dorking (1991, 15,658), Farnham (1991, 36,178), Haslemere (1991, 12,218), Leatherhead (1991, 42,903), Redhill, and Weybridge.

Surrey is administered by a county council and 11 district and borough councils. The county council has its headquarters at County Hall in Kingston upon Thames (which is not in the county, being officially part of Greater London). There are three district councils, Mole Valley, Tandridge, and Waverley, and eight borough councils, Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Reigate and Banstead, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, and Woking. The police authority is the Surrey Police, with headquarters in Guildford. A Crown Court sits in Guildford.