Norbury Park in Dorking, Surrey is a truly special location within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). With its diverse landscape of woodland, chalk grassland, farmland, and river valleys, it provides the perfect backdrop for our heritage skills training courses, wellbeing experiences, creative workshops, and Corporate Woodland Experiences.
Norbury Park offers a rich mixture of habitats. In spring, the woodland comes alive with carpets of bluebells and wildflowers, providing shelter for dormice, roe deer, badgers, foxes and all three British woodpeckers. Ancient trees, including the remarkable yews of Druid’s Grove, some believed to be up to 3,000 years old, provide important roosts for bat species such as pipistrelle, noctule and common long-eared.
The 33 hectares of chalk grassland support an extraordinary variety of life, with up to 40 species of flowering plants found within a single square metre. Rare bee and fly orchids thrive here, attracting butterflies and insects in abundance. The surrounding farmland encourages nesting skylarks and maintains healthy hedgerows, providing habitat for birds, mammals and invertebrates. Flowing through the park, the River Mole adds to the beauty of the landscape and is home to kingfishers.
Norbury Park is one of our key training locations for traditional rural crafts including coppicing, hedgelaying, hazel wattle hurdle making and woodcraft. The Sweet Chestnut and Hazel coppice has been managed for many years and continues to provide the essential stakes and binders used in both courses and commercial hedgelaying.
Alongside heritage skills, we run a growing variety of creative and wellbeing workshops at the Sawmill and across the estate. These include willow weaving, woodcraft, mixed-media arts, and Forest Bathing, offering groups the opportunity to connect with craft, nature, and wellbeing in a truly inspiring setting.
For groups and organisations, we offer tailored Corporate Woodland Experiences that combine team-building, creativity, and connection with nature. Activities can include heritage skills workshops, creative arts sessions, Forest Bathing, and outdoor learning, all designed to foster collaboration, wellbeing, and inspiration in the stunning Surrey Hills landscape.
For those wishing to extend their visit, onsite overnight camping may be available. Please mention this option when enquiring with our organiser.
A popular choice is Swanworth Farm Campsite, a simple but scenic riverside site set within the Norbury Park Estate. Located in the Mole Gap of the Surrey Hills North Downs, this peaceful campsite is surrounded by organic sheep and cattle pastures and provides a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the landscape of South East England.
Norbury Park offers flexible options for workshops, retreats, and corporate events. Contact us to discuss your requirements, explore the variety of experiences available, and plan your visit to this inspiring location in the heart of the Surrey Hills.
