We normally only email you on a Wednesday, unless there is something really important. Today is one of those days, where we urgently need your help to object by 8 November 2025to a planning application to build 250 dwellings next to Shetland Pony Club.
ACT NOW – Please help stop a second monster housing estate that threatens The Ranch
There is a second planning application in NOW to build 250 tall dwellings on Green Belt land below the Ranch at Clouds Hill Farm directly below Shetland Pony Club. This will severely impact:
The beauty of the views from The Ranch that you love
Be bad for nature and wildlife
Cause congestion and access issues with additional traffic
Click on the link to the Elmbridge Borough Council Planning Application 2025/2147 – Clouds Hill Farm Leatherhead Road Oxshott Leatherhead Surrey KT22 0ET
Click – “Make a comment”
Fill in your contact details and click “You object to the planning application”
Add your own comments or use these words:
Objection Comments – you can copy and paste these if you wish:
I am writing to strongly object to the planning application for the proposed housing development on the green belt at Clouds Hill Farm, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0ET
As a visitor to Shetland Pony Club and someone who values the natural beauty of the area, I am deeply concerned about the impact this development would have on the local environment and community. My objections are as follows:
Impact on Views and Landscape: The proposed development would significantly alter the unbroken, rural views from the surrounding hills, affecting both the visual landscape and the tranquillity that visitors and locals currently enjoy.
Incompatibility with the Area’s Character: This large-scale housing development is not in keeping with the rural character of the valley and would result in the irretrievable loss of agricultural and green belt land. The tall height of the buildings is incompatible with the character of the area.
Ecological Concerns: The valley is home to important wildlife, including bat and owl populations. The introduction of artificial lighting and the loss of the significant dark skies of Clouds Hill Farm would have a detrimental impact on these species and their habitats. The Bat report in the application has been redacted by the developer. This should be published in full as it is clear from the photographs that there are active bat roosts on Clouds Hill Farm, as there is on the neighbouring farmland of Shetland Pony Club.
Loss of mature trees The proposed development threatens to cut down 114 mature oak trees and prune a further 117. The mature Oak woodlands of Surrey are highly valued both for the ecological services they provide by being the lungs of London, by the wildlife they support and the beauty they offer the landscape. The proposal is an unacceptable loss of mature woodland habitat and its associated bat ecology. Oak trees are hard to regenerate and can live for up to 1000 years. The loss of 114 mature trees equates to hundreds of years of positive ecological services which can all be lost to the bulldozer in one afternoon. Surrey County Council is constantly encouraging farmers, landowners, and schools to plant more trees due to their ecological benefits. The biodiversity net gain calculations from the SANG application are questionable greenwash in the light of the proposed destruction of this mature woodland habitat. Nature has no voice, and it is up to Elmbridge Council that we have elected to stand up for nature and listen to the will of their constituents. Once it is lost, it is lost forever.
Thank you for considering this comment and I strongly urge the Elmbridge Council to reject this application.
ACT NOW – Please help stop a second monster housing estate that threatens The Ranch
This week, we have been busy getting the Shetland ponies ready to reopen The Ranch. There’s lots to do. First, the vet has been to give the ponies their annual flu vaccinations. The ponies were all very well behaved and good patients and Crème Brulee even helped with the paperwork.
Shetland pony shampooing
Next, the Shetland ponies get ready to reopen for pony fun, with a shampoo to make their coats clean and glossy. Take a look at all the ponies. Who is the shiniest and who has a crazy hairdo? Why is that?
Shetland pony picnic
The Shetland ponies have enjoyed a picnic on the grass in The Ranch too, but some of them have been trying to get extra food from the buckets. Who are the picnic pests?
Strictly Limited Shetland Pony Visiting – Sunday 28 June 2020
On Sunday afternoon 28 June 2020 we will have limited ponies available for Shetland Pony Visiting. Our pony share members have really enjoyed connecting with their ponies after lockdown. So, we would like to give more children the chance to come and enjoy some pony company too. You will NOT be able to ride but can still have a lovely time with your adorable Shetland pony.
Bookings for Shetland Pony Visiting are now open for Sunday 28 June and are strictly by appointment only.
Please understand your child will NOT BE RIDING due to 2m social distancing rules, just pony visiting, grooming, and a chance to walk a Shetland pony with supervision through the meadows. There will be a chance to take photos of your child and pony too.
There will be very strict and unbreakable rules, for everyone’s safety. You may bring only ONE adult and ONE child per booking. No exceptions. Parents must be able to help their child, by leading a pony under our supervision. You can download our rules for attending these sessions on our website here
Session duration: 45 minutes, Cost £40. Our gift vouchers are accepted.
You can enjoy our new Online Shetland Pony Club website. It’s packed with lots of pony fun, craft and learning for you to enjoy. You can sign up here for free now.
We’d love to see you for pony fun – date to be announced soon
We are excited to let you know that we will soon be ready to reopen Shetland Pony Club, in line with the latest government stay safe guidelines announced on 23 June 2020 and advice from the Association of British Riding Schools. Keep an eye on this weekly email, social media and thewebsite herefor more information and our plans for riding safely. We would love to see you for pony riding fun soon. (Updated 24 June 2020).
All paid bookings from July onwards – we will contact all bookings for July shortly to let you know about our plans for your booking.
Parties – we will contact you to discuss your party booking.
Gift Vouchers – expiry dates will be extended if you are unable to use them within the current expiry period.
Pony Share Membership – we are contacting members regularly about their pony.
Refunds – we hope that you will support the ponies, if you are able to, by accepting a voucher code to ride in the future. Should you require a refund instead, please email us and we will organise this for you.
Take care from
The Shetland Pony Club Team and all the Shetland ponies
Stop that Shetland pony galloping about at The Ranch. What is he doing and why?
Batman is galloping about in the big field at The Ranch. He is joined by Samson and Crème Caramel and they are galloping really fast. What is making them run away and how fast can they run?
Why is that Shetland pony galloping about?
Shetland ponies are flight animals and it’s their natural behaviour to run away or gallop about when they sense danger or something unexpected.
Is there something unusual at Shetland Pony Club that’s causing all that pony galloping?
