More than a mile of new paths open to public at surrey beauty spot

Walkers can now enjoy more than a mile of new paths at a Surrey beauty spot. The land along a popular hiking route is now more accessible to visitors wanting to experience its stunning

scenery. The new paths along Tyting Farm are connected to popular walk routes nearby. With the land located between Chantry Wood and St Martha’s church there is plenty to see in the area. To

encourage visitors to stop by, new signs have been installed at the farm, showing visitors what to look out for in the nature reserve. Its site has a interesting history since being

purchased by the Guildford Borough Council in 1942. Soon afterwards the land was requisitioned by the War Department and turned into a training school for the government's secret

Special Operations Executive during World War Two, with aeroplanes landing on nearby farmland. In the 1950s, the site was turned into a farm. The former Tyting Hall was demolished and

several farm buildings were constructed. As well as being good for walkers, lots of wildlife calls the farm home. Guildford Borough Council ’s parks and countryside teams are carrying out

work to restore chalk grassland, plant trees, maintain hedgerows and remove invasive species such as rhododendron and laurel. ‘NoFence’ GPS technology keeps cattle in particular areas,

stopping them from blocking gateways and paths. It’s also being used to make grazing at the farm more efficient. Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change, Cllr George Potter said:

“It’s brilliant to see the new information signs installed at Tyting Farm. "They’re designed to encourage people to explore the surrounding area. We know there are positive benefits of

spending time outdoors on people’s health and wellbeing. “Our parks and countryside teams deserve great praise for their work in making our green spaces enjoyable for visitors, improving

local habitats and protecting the environment. "As we combat the effects of climate change in Guildford, it’s important we look after our parks and green spaces. Our aim is to be Net

Zero by 2030 and projects like this one support that target. “I hope residents will head to Tyting Farm and enjoy the walks on offer.” Tyting Farm is easily reached along footpaths from

surrounding areas including Chantry Wood, Pewley Downs, St Martha’s Hill, Newlands Corner and Merrow Downs. For those undeterred by hills and looking to leave their car at home, it is

possible to walk directly from Guildford town centre on the North Downs Way.