Welcome to Surrey Rural Partnership

Surrey is frequently perceived by regional and national policymakers and programme funders as not being rural, with an obvious consequence on the level of rural investment that it receives. This is patently a misconception when one considers that: over three-quarters of Surrey is rural; it has a substantial rural economy; and, it is the most wooded county in England.

Almost a quarter of a million people (~20% of Surrey’s total population) live in the 80% of the county that is nationally classified as rural. Nearly 2,500 farm holdings work ~40% of the total land area; and, although we tend to take our woodlands for granted, they make up ~25% of the land area. A further 15% of Surrey’s land area comprises areas of nature conservation. Despite these statistics, the over-arching perception that Surrey is a wealthy, ‘suburban’ county distorts national and regional strategies to our disadvantage when it comes to rural investment programmes.

The Surrey Rural Partnership (SRP) was established in May 2007 to respond to this challenge by providing a forum to promote rural interests in the county.

On these web pages, you will find information about rural Surrey, the work of the Partnership and its member organisations, and access to funding and resources available to promote Surrey’s rural interests.
 

To download a published article on the role and activities of the Surrey Rural Partnership, go to the download section of "SRP Programmes" or click here.