1.2
Background
1.2.1
Norbury Park is an important part of the County Council's 4047 hectare (10,000 acre) Countryside Estate, which is managed for the County Council by the Countryside & Heritage Division of the Environment Department. Ultimate responsibility for the management of Norbury Park, as for the rest of the Countryside Estate, rests with the County Council's Environment Committee.
1.2.2
Day-to-day management of the Countryside Estate is the responsibility of the County Council's Countryside Estate Manager, who is assisted at Norbury Park by a senior ranger, ranger and assistant ranger, and by a team who manage the sawmill and workshop and carry out estate management work. The management plan sets out the management objectives and work programmes for Norbury Park which will be implemented by these staff for the period 2000 - 2005. The Norbury Park Strategy refers to this management work and also to other actions to develop and manage Norbury Park which may be carried out on behalf of the County Council by consultants or contractors.
1.2.3
Management of Norbury Park is aided by an advisory committee - the Norbury Park Consultative Group - which includes representatives of the County
Council, Mole Valley District Council and Mickleham Parish Council, together with representatives of local community, amenity and user groups.
1.2.4
The Consultative Group has established an Advisory Panel to give expert advice on the preparation and implementation of the management plan. The Advisory Panel will consider the annual management programmes. The Advisory Panel reports back to the Consultative Group.
1.2.5
Norbury Park extends to 526 hectares. Norbury Park House is in private ownership and is not included as part of the land covered by this management plan. The extent of Norbury Park as referred to in this management plan is shown on the map in appendix 1. The extent of land designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and included on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens is shown in appendix 2.
1.2.6
Norbury Park forms part of the Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI notification is included in appendix 3). It also forms part of Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC), notified under the European Union Habitats Directive 1992. Appendix 4 lists the European Interest(s) for which the cSAC is notified. A cSAC forms part of the Natura 2000 series. It has a range of habitats including semi-natural woodlands, chalk grassland and areas of scrub which contributes to the high biodiversity of the site.
1.2.7
Norbury Park lies within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is an important site covered by the Surrey Hills AONB management strategy. Norbury Park is within the North Downs Natural Area.
1.2.8
Part of Norbury Park is a nationally important historic park; it is included on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens drawn up by English Heritage. The register entry is included in appendix 5.
1.2.9
The woodlands are actively managed for nature conservation and timber production, some of which is utilised by the sawmill and workshop on site. The Woodland Management Statement is included in appendix 6. There is also a brief explanation of ride management in this appendix.
1.2.10 Three farms remain active within Norbury Park, Bockett's, Swanworth and Norbury Park Farms. Other outlying fields are rented out to a farmer not based within the boundaries of the park.
1.2.11 Norbury Park is extensively used for informal public recreation with a large number of regular users from the local area but with visitors from further afield also using the Park. The River Mole is used for angling and canoeing. A number of school groups visit the site. Larger one-off events are permitted if they do not conflict with the stated management objectives.
Bocketts Farm attracts a large proportion of visitors to Norbury Park. Bockett's Farm is a commercially run farm park catering for public access and school visits.