Countryside Guide

Please follow the CountrysideCountryside Countryside Code guideguide To help us all respect, protect and enjoy our countryside please:

Respect other people • Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors • Leave gates and property as you find them • Follow paths

Protect the natural environment • Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home • Keep dogs under effective control

Enjoy the outdoors • Plan ahead and be prepared • Follow advice and local signs Experience the countryside and wildlife that Reigate and Banstead www.naturalengland.org.uk has to offer

For more information about the borough’s countryside email [email protected] 01737 276000 or visit www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk Introduction Contents Are you Page 3 Banstead Woods Reigate and Banstead Page 4 Stagbury Downs has an exciting and interested in rich ecological Page 5 Banstead heritage which our Wildlife Field countryside Page 6 Earlswood learning more rangers work Common with the Page 7 Felland Copse community and about our wildlife groups to Page 8 Furzefield Copse maintain and Page 9 Hooley Meadows protect. From beautiful ancient woodland Page 10 Nork Park through to chalk Page 11 New Pond Farm grassland, we have it all. Page 12 Petridgewood countryside? Common These sites provide a valuable wildlife habitat for an array of rare and endangered wildlife; they are also Page 13 Priory Park There’s lots of ways wonderful places to visit. Page 14 Radstock Way Page 15 Redhill Common This guide shares some of the areas in the borough to get involved that offer opportunities to enjoy stunning scenery and Page 16 Reigate Heath rare wildlife. The pages include details about how to Page 17 Reigate Hill access each site and what you are likely to find. The Join our Facebook group: postcodes given are indicative only and for general Page 18 Riverside Garden Countryside - Reigate & Banstead Borough Council. Park guidance. Upload your images and ask our Page 19 Get involved ! Symbols countryside rangers questions.

Wheelchair friendly Mammals

Bats Butterflies Follow us on Twitter @reigatebanstead Trees Amphibians

Plant life (flora) Reptiles Share your pictures on the Council’s Flickr page: Birds Invertebrates www.flickr.com/reigate-bansteadboroughcouncil

2 19 Riverside Garden Park Horley Banstead Woods Postcode: RH6 7LN Postcode: CR5 3NR The Riverside Garden Park is a surprising Banstead Woods, an ancient woodland find, sandwiched between the residential spanning 250 acres, is thought to have streets of Horley and Gatwick Airport. It existed as woodland continuously since is part of two longer walks, a Millennium the end of the last Ice Age about 12,000 Trail (18 miles) and the Horley Circular years ago. It acts as a ‘green lung’ for Walk (5.8 miles).Sussex Wildlife Trust is local communities. This is one of the involved in managing the park. reasons why it has been designated as a Although it is not expansive, visitors will Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). enjoy the mature trees, tranquil pond and pleasant scenery. Riverside Garden Park is managed by Horley Town Council. Visit www.horleysurrey-tc.gov. Did you know? uk for more information. In the 13th century much of Banstead Woods was fenced in as a deer park and Parking facilities Parking available at Holly Lane Parking facilities a hunting lodge was built on the edge of car park. Did you know? Parking available just off Crescent the woods for the lords of the manor. Way. There’s a renovated cycling track In 1939 the mansion and grounds Additional access details Not suitable for visitors with running from Horley to Gatwick that Additional access details became an emergency military hospital; limited mobility. cuts through the park. Suitable for visitors with limited the remainder of the woods was used by mobility. the War Department as a military camp and later a Prisoner of War camp.

Look out for: Look out for: Green woodpecker, Wood anemone, Bluebell, Geese, Ducks, Herons, Blue Green alkanet, Red, campion, Greater spotted woodpecker, Primrose, Lesser celandine, tit, Great tit, Black cap, Song Wood avens, Teasel, Woodcock, Buzzard, Tawny Greater stitchwort, Dogs thrush, Canada goose Coot, Speedwell, Yellow flag iris, Bog owl, Wren, Nuthatch, Tree mercury, Wood sorrel Moorhen, Mallard, Heron bean, Water lilly creeper, Hobby Speckled wood, Purple Common frog, Common toad, Hornbeam, Sessile oak, emperor, Red admiral, Bank vole, Wood mouse, Fox, Smooth newt, Palmate newt Pendunculate oak, Hazel, Ash, Peacock, Orange tip Rabbit, Grey squirrel, Bats Field maple, Beech, Horse chestnut, larch, Yew

Oak, Elder, Poplar, Alder, Badger, Bats, Fox, Roe deer, Willow, Hornbeam, Hawthorn, Stoat, Weasel Gorse 18 3 Stagbury Downs Reigate Hill Postcode: CR5 3NR Postcode: RH2 0HX

Stagbury Downs is part of the North This stretch of the North Downs, Downs which stretches from Winchester designated as a SSSI is excellent walking to Dover. Historically Stagbury Downs country with chalk grasslands and quiet would have been grazed by sheep. shady woods. The intense grazing controlled the Sitting proud at the top of the Hill is more scrubby species and allowed the National Trust-owned 19th century rarer chalk grassland species to flourish. Reigate Fort. The fort commands a Sheep and cattle still graze historic defensive position looking out Stagbury Downs as part of an effort to over the weald towards the South Downs. conserve this rare and special habitat. It was one of 13 installations designed to protect London from the threat of invasion from France. Nowadays its uses have changed and a visit to Reigate Hill will give you Parking facilities Did you know? the opportunity to admire the breath taking views towards the lower Parking available at Holly Lane Weald, the South Downs and on a clear day, Chanctonbury Ring. The word ‘Downs’ is said to have car park. evolved from “dun” - an Old English word meaning hill. The word Additional access details acquired the sense of ‘elevated rolling There is some wheelchair/ Parking facilities Did you know? motorised scooter access grassland’ around the 14th century, Parking available at Wray Lane In 1945 a World War II American (gates widened etc.) similar to our own associations today car park. when we talk about chalk downland or Flying Fortress aeroplane plunged into the side of Reigate Hill killing all nine even just Stagbury Downs. Additional access details of its crew. A memorial bench was Some access for visitors with Look out for: limited mobility is possible. installed in March 2002. Skylark, Kestrel, Buzzard, Various skippers, Common Siskin, Linnet, Yellowhammer, blue, Orange tip, Small copper, Blackcap, Little owl Brimstone, Marbled white Look out for:

Skylark, Kestrel, Buzzard, Roe deer, Fox, Badger, Mole, Siskin, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Sheep, Cattle Wild strawberry, Several orchid Roe deer, Fox, Badger, Mole, Blackcap, Little owl species, Greater stitchwort, Sheep, Cattle Spindle, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Marjoram, Yellow rattle, St Primrose, Lesser celandine, Whitebeam Johns wort, Red bartsia, Wild strawberry, Several orchid horseshoe vetch, birdsfoot Spindle, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, species, Greater stitchwort, Various skippers, Common trefoil Whitebeam Marjoram, St Johns wort blue, Orange tip, Small copper, Brimstone, Marbled white

4 17 Reigate Heath Banstead Wildlife Field Postcode: RH2 8Q Postcode: SM7 2AH Reigate Heath is a testament to the history A two-acre site with chalk grassland, a of Reigate. It is designated a Site of pond with dipping platform and a sensory Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and garden. It has been developed as an a Local Nature Reserve because of its environmental education site. rare lowland heath and acid grassland Fully accessible for wheelchair and habitats. buggy users, everyone can enjoy it. It also has historical importance with Banstead Wildlife Field is a small hidden seven Bronze Age burial mounds (3-5000 gem for those who enjoy birdsong, years old) which have been designated butterflies and learning about wildlife. Scheduled Ancient Monuments. It is also home to a grade II listed windmill, now restored and used as a chapel. It is thought to be the only windmill in the world which is a consecrated church. Did you know? Did you know? Parking facilities Parking facilities Banstead Wildlife Field is a “set-aside” Limited roadside parking Over 80% of our lowland heaths have Parking available on Flanchford Road, Reigate. as a haven for urban wildlife. Animals available. been destroyed since the 19th century. which have adapted to the urban Heathland is one of our most threatened Additional access details environment tend to be more tolerant of Additional access details habitats; lack of traditional management Not suitable for visitors with the light and noise generated by human Suitable for visitors with limited methods has caused heathland habitats to limited mobility. activity and take advantage of the heat mobility. become more threatened than rainforests. and the abundant food sources. Look out for: Look out for: Green woodpecker, Greater Scots pine, Silver birch, Holly, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Crow, Blackthorn, Beech, Cherry, spotted woodpecker, Alder buckthorn, Oak Collared dove, Greenfinch, Elder, Hawthorn, Juniper, Holly, Stonechat, Bullfinch, Linnet, Magpie, Song thrush Hazel, Birch, Rowan Goldfinch, Buzzard, Goldcrest, Fieldfare Green tiger beetle, Heath sand Fox, Rabbit, Bank vole, Field Brimstone, Common blue, wasp, Heath bee fly, Shield Common heather(ling), Bell vole, Grey squirrel Gatekeeper, Meadow brown, bug, Meadow grasshopper heather, Cross-leaved heath, Marjoram, Knapweed, Ladies Peacock, Red admiral, Small Small copper, Small heath, Gorse, Dwarf gorse, Upright bedstraw, Pyramidal orchid, tortoiseshell Green hairstreak, Purple brome, Wild chamomile, Red bartsia, Oxeye daisy, hairstreak Slender parsley-piert, Little Birdsfoot trefoil Damsel fly, Dragon fly, Field mouse ear, Whitlow grass grasshopper, Soldier beetle, Common frog, Common toad, Bumble bee, Black ant, Red Roe deer, Badger, Fox, Field Pipistrelle, Noctule bat Palmate newt ant vole 16 5 Earlswood Common Redhill Common Postcode: RH2 7QB Postcode: RH1 6PA Redhill Common forms part of a large With accessible paths, grassy expanses, (though now fragmented) area of wooded areas and two large lakes, common land known as the Redhill and Earlswood Common is home to diverse Earlswood Commons. There is ancient, habitats and is a local nature reserve. semi-natural woodland, grassland, Traditionally, it would have been used lowland heath and a pond to be enjoyed. for many things, including the grazing Traditionally sheep and cattle would of livestock, for gathering wood for fuel have grazed on the land. Since grazing and brick making. Nowadays the site is stopped woodland has taken over and important for recreation. Fishing is allowed some of the habitats that were lost have on the lower lake and the upper lake is become very rare. In the last few years Reigate maintained as an undisturbed and tranquil & Banstead Borough Council has restored the Top haven for wildlife. Common so that on a clear day amazing views across the Weald to the South Downs can be enjoyed. Did you know? Parking facilities Parking available at Earlswood’s lower lake used to have Woodhatch Road, Reigate. a diving platform and a paddling pool Did you know? Parking facilities for summer swimming. Parking available at Woodhatch Road car park, In Victorian times a large area of the Additional access details Some of Earlswoods’ more hardy Redhill. Suitable for visitors with limited inhabitants made use of the lake for common was a pleasure garden and mobility. all year round swimming and were was much more formalised than it is Additional access details even known to break the ice for a now. Not suitable for visitors with limited mobility. refreshing winters swim! Look out for: Look out for: Green woodpecker, Coot Common pippistrelle, Brown Green woodpecker, Greater Gorse, Brome, Sedges, Kingfisher, Great crested long eared bat, Soprano spotted woodpecker, Tormentil, Common heather grebe, Little grebe, Grey pippistrelle, Daubentons, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Wren, (Ling), Sheep Sorrel heron, Cormorant, Tufted duck, Serotine, Noctule Great tit, Blue tit, Long tailed tit, Mallard, Moorhen Coal tit Meadow brown, Small/ Oak, Silver birch, Beech, White large white, Speckled wood, Harebell, Brome, Gorse, Wild willow, Goat willow, White Oak, Ash, Field maple, Scott’s Peacock, Red admiral chamomile, Purple loosestrife, poplar, Horse chestnut, Alder pine, Beech, Silver birch, Wild Gypsywort, Lords and ladies cherry Common toad, Common frog, Roe Deer, Badger, Fox, Rabbit Palmate newt, Smooth newt Grey squirrel, Fox, Field vole

6 15 Radstock Way Open Spaces Felland Copse Postcode: RH1 3N Postcode: RH21 7QH The Radstock Way is divided into distinct The copse is an excellent example of sites - Furzefield Wood, Merstham ancient semi-natural woodland coppice Meadows and Radstock Way open space. where woodlands were managed in Merstham Meadows was cut in two when rotation to ensure an ongoing supply of the M25 was built in the 1980s with a wood for fuel. During much of the 20th footbridge crossing the motorway that century the practice ceased, resulting now links the two sites. Habitats within in a dramatic decline in the wildlife the area comprise of amenity grassland, associated with coppiced woods. woodland, wet meadow and semi-improved meadowland, its diversity Nowadays Felland Copse is coppiced for means it has considerable wildlife value for birds, hedge laying materials and to encourage the mammals and invertebrates alike making it an excellent wildlife of the woods. Neatly lain hedges can be location for a wildlife walk. seen throughout the borough and it is likely that wood from Felland Copse helped to restore some of these wonderful hedgerows.

Parking facilities On street parking available nearby. Did you know? Did you know? Parking facilities Parking available at New Pond There is a trail of woodland sculptures During the construction of a turnpike Farm off Woodhatch Road, Additional access details made using timber from Furzefield road in 1817 the remains of what is Reigate. Not suitable for visitors with Wood. Come along to explore. thought to be a Roman villa were found limited mobility. within the copse. The building consisted Additional access details of six apartments, with a paved atrium Not suitable for visitors with at its west end. limited mobility. Look out for: Robin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Fox, Field vole, Bank vole, Look out for: Dunnock, Treecreeper, Kestrel, Rabbit, Grey squirrel, Wood Tawny owl, ChiffChaff, Greater mouse Kestrel, Chiffchaff, Jay, Roe Deer, Badger, Fox, Wood spotted woodpecker Kingfisher, Greater spotted mouse, Bank vole, Grey Sessile Oak, Pendunculate woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, squirrel, Shrew Meadow foxtail, Lords and Oak, Ash, Field maple, Holly, Tawny owl, Blue tit, Bulfinch, Ladies, Bluebell, Ragged robin, Hawthorn, Hazel, Blackthorn, Wren, Treecreeper Sainfoin, Common vetch, Dog wood Oak, Ash, Aspen, Cherry, Greater stitchwort, Creeping Wood anemone, Wood sorrel, Hazel, Silver birch buttercup, Travellers joy Burnet moth, Marbled white, Bluebell, Lesser celandine, Common blue, Large/small Town hall clock, Dog violet, skipper Wood speedwell, Bugle, Wood Soprano pipistrelle, Daubenton sedge, Broad buckler fern, Red admiral, Peacock, Common figwort Speckled wood, Orange tip 14 7 Furzefield Copse Priory Park Postcode: RH2 7HQ Postcode: RH2 7RL Furzefield Copse is a magnet for wildlife Managed and maintained by the Council in an otherwise urban environment. The and enjoyed by many, the Park combines word ‘furze’ means gorse so it is likely playgrounds, flower beds, historical to have once been managed as open features and nature conservation. fields dominated with gorse scrub Habitats include woodland, grassland, and grassland which has evolved into a lake, amenity grassland and nectar woodland over time. rich flower beds designed to support The northernmost path forms part of the populations of pollinating insects in the 108 mile long Greensand Way, a chalk, borough. The diversity of habitats within the clay and sandstone ridge formed around 125 Park means there is plenty of opportunity for million years ago. It runs from Haslemere, Surrey wildlife to flourish. to Hamstreet in Kent and is a popular route for long distance walkers. Did you know? Priory Park is home to several champion Parking facilities Parking available near Bell Did you know? trees including the tallest recorded Street. Parking facilities Hornbeam in the country (31m) and the Furzefield wood is particularly On street parking available second tallest Ash (36m). They can be important for its deadwood habitats Additional access details nearby. found among a collection of interesting Suitable for visitors with limited found in both standing trees and on the non-native trees within the Arboretum. mobility. Additional access details floor. Deadwood habitats will attract all The Tree Trail guide can be picked up Not suitable for visitors with kinds of different creatures from bees, from the Pavillion. limited mobility. bugs, moths and butterflies to the many birds, and mammals which rely on Look out for: these habitats for food and shelter. Linnet, Song thrush, Hornbeam, Sessile oak, Hazel, Starling, Kestrel, Stock dove, Ash, Field maple, Beech, Look out for: Cuckoo, House martin, Green Horse chestnut Larch, Yew woodpecker, Dunnock, Green woodpecker, Greater Ash, Oak, Sweet chestnut, Common frog, Common toad, Goldcrest, Willow warbler, Mute spotted woodpecker, Blue tit, Holm oak, Larch, Corsican Palmate newt, Smooth newt Great tit, Chaffinch, Tawny owl, pine, Whitebeam, Field maple, swan, Kingfisher, Little grebe, Common pippistrelle, Brown Wren, Chiffchaff, Longtailed tit Hawthorn, Holly, Hazel Egyptian goose long eared bat, Soprano Roe deer, Badger, Fox, Field pippistrelle, Daubentons, Bluebells, Cow parsley, Ground Millipede, Centipede, vole, Mole, Rabbit Serotine, Noctule ivy, Bramble, Nettle Woodlouse, Earwig, Ladybird Cuckoo wasp, Click beetle, Bluebell, Marsh Marigolds, Mining bee, Meadow Wood Anemone, Black Badger, Fox, Grey squirrel, grasshopper knapweed, Cuckoo flower, Shrew, Bank vole Hedge mustard, Ransoms (wild garlic) 8 13 Petridgewood Common Hooley Meadows Postcode: RH1 5JJ Postcode: CR5 3RB Petridgewood Common is a large area of Hooley Meadows is designated as a Site common land, home to an array of plants of Nature Conservation Interest because and flowers. The richness of wild flower of its rare habitats. Now managed species on this site is a direct result of in partnership with the Downlands its management and periodical cutting, Countryside Management Project, the which also provides suitable conditions meadows have been opened up to for a myriad of insects and other wildlife. restore the chalk habitats here.

Did you know? Parking facilities There are seven concrete anti- Parking available at the Cricket Did you know? Parking facilities tank buoys on the western edge of Club car park off Woodhatch The site is now being grazed by cows On street parking available Road, Redhill. Petridgewood Common dating back nearby. to World War II. The tank stops were for conservation. Grazing is much better for wildlife than cutting with Additional access details positioned in 1940 as part of a GHQ Additional access details machinery and the wildlife of the area Not suitable for visitors with defensive line and although not in situ Not suitable for visitors with limited mobility. can still be seen acting as a poignant will be greatly enhanced now the cows limited mobility. reminder of our vulnerability during this are back. time. Look out for: Look out for:

Robin, Dunnock, Sparrow, Common spotted orchid, Yellow hammer, Blackcap, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Alder Wagtail, Blue tit, Great tit, black knapweed, Common Green woodpecker, buckthorn Wren, Chaffinch, Blackbird, knapweed, Red clover, Whitethroat, Kestrel, Tawny owl Pied wagtail, Mistle thrush Common fleabane, Red Slow worm, Common lizard Toothwort, Common spotted fescue, Tormentil, Meadow Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Self Brown hairstreak, Marbled Marbled white, Large skipper, vetchling, Greater bird’s-foot- heal, Bedstraw, Ground Ivy, white, Small skipper, Small skipper, Red admiral, trefoil, Smooth tare, Meadow Wild Parsnip, Salad Burnet, Small tortoiseshell, Comma, buttercup, Tufted vetch, Marsh Bladder Campion, Wild Basil, Meadow brown, Gatekeeper, thistle, Lesser stitchwort, Grizzled skipper, Common Burnet Saxifrage Common blue, Brown Sneezewort blue, Orange tip hairstreak Badger, Fox, Field vole, Bank Oak, Ash, Willow, Blackthorn, vole, Wood mouse, Shrew, Hawthorn Meadow grasshopper Rabbit

12 9 Nork Park New Pond Farm Postcode: Near SM7 1DF Postcode: Near RH2 7QH Another borough gem, Nork Park is home New Pond Farm is a network of wet to a diversity of habitats, outstanding grassland fields that were farmed until views across London and has a the middle of the 20th century. Since fascinating history. then the site has been used for public The house and gardens were recreation and nature conservation and established in 1740 by the Buckle family the result is the peaceful place that we and sold along with surrounding parkland have today. to Frederick Coleman of the mustard For the last twenty years part of the site family in 1890. has been grazed by cattle to encourage a Now managed by Reigate & Banstead more diverse display of wild flowers and as Borough Council, the chalk grassland and a result the site has been designated a Site of arboretum are being restored by the council with the help Nature Conservation Importance. of volunteers from the Nork Park Conservation Volunteers and the Downlands Countryside Management Project. Did you know?

A small isolation hospital was built Parking facilities Parking facilities Did you know? at New Pond Farm in the early 19th Parking available. Parking available at The Drive century to contain diseases such as There is a trim trail running around the car park. typhoid, cholera and tuberculosis. This site created to encourage fitness in the Additional access details was a time such diseases were very local community. It can be used as part of Not suitable for visitors with Additional access details common and correct treatment not fully limited mobility. a circular run or as a supervised play trail Not suitable for visitors with understood. limited mobility. adding a little fun to a family walk.

Look out for: Look out for: Kingfisher, Buzzard, Grey Roe deer, Badger, Fox, Grey wagtail, Pied wagtail, Kestrel, squirrel, Rabbit, Mole, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Tree Oak, Hazel, Ash, Field maple, Sparrow hawk, Fieldfare, Wood mouse, Field vole creeper, Nuthatch, Skylark, Beech, Horse chestnut, Larch, Redwing, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Tawny owl Yew, Wellingtonia, Cedar Dunnock Meadow brown, Comma, of Lebanon, Corsican pine, Gatekeeper, Orange tip, Pyramidal orchid, Greater Western hemlock, Douglas fir, Brimstone, Ringlet knapweed, Salad burnet, Ginko biloba, Tulip tree Fleabane, Primrose, Greater Autumn flowering crocus, stitchwort, Ladies smock, Common pipistrelle, Brown Oxeye Daisy, Meadow Ground ivy, Birdsfoot trefoil, Fox, Field vole, Bank vole, long eared bat, Soprano vetchling, Cowslip, Wild teasel, Common mouse-ear, Grey squirrel, Rabbit, Bats pipistrelle, Daubentons bat, Black medick Enchanter’s-nightshade Serotine, Noctule

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