Natural England

Natural England's Thursley National Nature Reserve(NNR)lies within Defra's NPZ2 Protection Zone, near Elstead in Surrey. The Reserve is close to Woolfords Farm, which has been associated with the recent outbreak of FMD. There are no grazing stock on this open access, healthland reserve.

Surrey County Council has received consent from the Secretary of State to close rights of way and other forms of access within this 3km Elstead Protection Zone. In support of Defra's disease control measures, Natural England will close all access to this National Nature Reserve.

Natural England has dedicated Reserve staff who will be assisting the Local Authority with signage and closure, in accordance with Defra guidance.

For more information please contact the Natural England Enquiry Service: Tel: 0845 600 3078 or enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk, or the Natural England press office: 0845 603 9953.

Natural England's priority is to support Defra and farmers in the containment and eradication of this disease and we continue to be in close contact with Defra over our involvement with the control process. Site staff, on notification of the closure order, are working to sign and close all access points on to the heathland reserve as quickly as possible.