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landscape and wildlife conservation ever since. ever conservation wildlife and landscape Banstead Borough Council) for public access and access public for Council) Borough Banstead the land (which is owned by Reigate and Reigate by owned is (which land the was held in 1893 and they have been managing been have they and 1893 in held was chalk-specific wildlife. wildlife. chalk-specific meeting of the Banstead Commons Conservators Commons Banstead the of meeting would otherwise overshadow the rarer, the overshadow otherwise would beautiful area for the foreseeable future. The first The future. foreseeable the for area beautiful growth of scrub and rough vegetation, which vegetation, rough and scrub of growth thrive. and develop in 1877, thus preserving our right to enjoy this enjoy to right our preserving thus 1877, in grazed on Banstead Downs to control the control to Downs Banstead on grazed to habitat special this allowed which vegetation, Local residents won the battle for Banstead Downs Banstead for battle the won residents Local cowslips and pyramidal orchids. Sheep are Sheep orchids. pyramidal and cowslips coarse and trees of regrowth the prevented enclosed and developed by the Landowner. Landowner. the by developed and enclosed the growth of chalk-loving flowers, such as such flowers, chalk-loving of growth the animals grazing Their livestock. and crops their legal battle, fought to prevent it from being from it prevent to fought battle, legal at Nork Park are cut once a year to promote to year a once cut are Park Nork at for fields create to cover woodland original Banstead Downs, subject of a long-running, fierce long-running, a of subject Downs, Banstead which is why the grassy slopes and terraces and slopes grassy the why is which the removed who farmers, early the by created of a mustard magnate’s house and gardens, to gardens, and house magnate’s mustard a of continued active management for its survival, its for management active continued habitat wildlife-rich and rare a – grassland T C M his circular walk takes you from the former site former the from you takes walk circular his halk grassland has since depended on depended since has grassland halk chalk across you takes walk this of uch Explore and Enjoy and Explore Explore and Enjoy This leaflet is best used with OS map: This leaflet was produced on behalf of Reigate 1:25000 Explorer 146 and Banstead Borough Council by the Old Surrey Downs Project. (Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate) Suitability Much of this walk is level, although the ground is often uneven, which makes it This 5 mile, 8 km walk takes you across two of unsuitable for wheelchairs and buggies. Surrey’s most historic sites: Nork Park and Restoring our beautiful chalk grassland Banstead Downs. We restore our beautiful chalk grassland through Footwear practical management. It starts and finishes at Nork Park car park, at We raise awareness of the importance of chalk the end of The Drive, Banstead. Some parts of the walk may be muddy grassland as part of our natural heritage. Grid Ref: TQ 241 589. – stout walking boots with good treads We encourage others to take part in discovering are recommended. Nearest Railway Stations: Banstead and its past and securing its future. Epsom Downs. Bus route 166 stops near to For information telephone: 01737 733933 Banstead Railway Station. Dog Walkers email: [email protected] For up-to-date public transport information, or visit www.oldsurreydowns.org.uk Special wildlife Sheep and cows may be seen on this contact Surrey Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or walk. They are helping chalk-loving www.traveline.info Inspiring views wild flowers to thrive by controlling the The Town and Down Circular Walk is one of six walks that link with the Millennium Trail, a long- Rich in history growth of rank grasses and rough distance footpath that stretches from Banstead vegetation. Please respect the Downs to Horley. For further information, Downlands Project Countryside Code by keeping your telephone Reigate and Banstead Borough Council on 01737 276000 or visit Waymarks for these walks have been installed by dogs on a lead when walking near www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk Downlands Project staff and volunteers. If you livestock. would like more information about the project, or NIUM EN TR would like to help restore our countryside, LL A I I L M contact us at: The Downlands Project, The Omnibus Building, Lesbourne Road, Reigate, M L I I L A L R Surrey RH2 7JA. Tel: 01737 737700 or visit EN T NIUM www.downlandsproject.org.uk NIUM EN TR LL A I I Illustrations by John Davis 01243 512351. L M Leaflet produced by JBD Media Limited 01787 223725 A link with the 09/04/09 (40K). M L I IL L A E TR NNIUM 5 Cross the railway bridge and take the second path on the 6 At the first crossways, go 7 Walk between the white lines and follow the path out into W elcome to the Town and Down Circular Walk – right. (You are now walking on part of the main Millennium straight on until you reach Lady Neville Recreation Ground. (Named after the wife of a a journey from the grassy slopes of Nork Park to Trail, so follow the blue waymarks.) Winkworth Road. Cross with local High Court Judge who purchased the land in 1895, it butterfly-rich Banstead Downs and back again. You are now walking through a Site of Special Scientific care and follow the path was gifted to the Parish as a recreation ground by her Interest – Banstead Downs is a nationally important area of straight on. At the next main daughter Edith in 1925.) Follow the path round to the right woodland, chalk grassland and scrub that supports a wide road (Sutton Lane) turn and walk through the recreation ground and then turn left 1 This walk starts at Nork Park car park, at the end of The range of wildlife, including some plants and insects now rare right and follow the road along a road (De Burgh Park). Take the first footpath on the Drive, Banstead. (Follow the orange Circular Walk waymarks.) in Surrey. until you reach a right that eventually leads through allotments and carry on From the car park, go past the metal gate and along the track, roundabout. (The old village until you reach Holly Lane. Cross Holly Lane with care and with a sports field and extensive views towards London on the well can be seen nearby. It follow the footpath on the other side. Where the path forks, go right. This is one of the highest points on the edge of the is 300ft deep and was still left and continue downhill until you reach a track. Go straight Thames basin: the large mound of earth nearby, known as in use at the end of the on into the field and follow the path as it descends and then Tumble Beacon, was a link in a chain of beacons that 19th century.) Bear right, rises. At the corner of the field, follow the path round to the stretched from London to the South coast. It was used to warn then cross the road and enter right and alongside the woodland. Follow the path straight on of the approaching Spanish Armada and is considered to be the Woolpack Pub car park. along the field edge and then back into a small area of one of the largest barrows in Surrey. (There has been an inn here woodland. for hundreds of years and its 8 2 Go through the woodland and you will see a hedge on the The Woolpack Inn sign. Go through two kissing gates. (You are now leaving the name (first recorded in 1716) right. Turn right past the corner of the hedge and then straight main Millennium Trail, so follow the orange Circular Walk bears witness to the importance of the wool trade that once on downhill along the path between the avenues of trees until waymarks from now on.) Follow the field edge straight on, and flourished in Banstead. The inn was also used as a venue for you pass another corner of the hedge on your right. Take the at the corner of the field, go straight on across another field parish business and as a wigmakers workshop.) second path leading off to the right, across the field, with towards a gap in the hedge. Carry straight on along another fenced areas of trees to the left. field with Canons Wood on your right, until you reach a kissing gate near some houses. Banstead Downs is an important site for the rare small blue butterfly. 6 5 4 7 3 Canons Wood is ablaze with bluebells in the spring, indicating that it is ancient Nork House may have gone, but its avenue of cherry woodland. The name dates back to mediaeval times. and beech trees remains. Cowslips bloom on the grassy terraces in April, when 9 Turn right and walk along the road until you reach the whitethroats are in full voice, singing from the tops of A217. Cross this busy road with care and follow the footpath hawthorn bushes. Old hedgerows and apple trees are straight on into the woodland. At the cross paths, carry 2 farmland relics; the more unusual and exotic trees at the top of 1 straight on along the footpath between fences. At the road, the hill are remnants of the arboretum that once surrounded turn left and follow it round to the right. At the end of the road Nork House.

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