Pond, the largest open water body on this common. Restored with help from the Whitmoor Association in co-operation with County Council, it supports a wide range of life from dragonflies of all sorts through to herons, tufted duck and even kingfisher. This is a good place to take a rest and catch your breath. Moving from the pond the track reaches a junction and you turn right, heading through the wooded centre of the common. Cross an intersection and you will walk past more of the commons’ residential houses. Please respect their privacy when walking on this route. The route then turns left again, down the side of the houses and across a small bridge out on to the open southern side of the common. Fires in the past, as well as grazing have kept the open vista that many people admire. We have steadily increased the views in this area, and currently think we have achieved the right balance. Along the track we have patches of dwarf gorse and creeping growing as well as tormentil and in the bare boggy ground sundews take advantage of their own little suntrap. The Purple Trail Continuing along the tarmac road you will pass a hazel copse planted in the winter of 2003. In time, these will be coppiced and used in hedge laying and riverbank restoration work on-site, as part of our sustainable woodland management programme. Ahead and to your left you may catch sight of a fine house through the trees. Now a private residence, it was built as an isolation hospital in the 19th century. Having passed Whitmoor Hatch and as the trees start to close-in, you turn right past a barway and walk through mixed woodland of scots pine, silver and holly with some fine specimens of english (Quercus robur). Cross the track to enter more open ground where you will pass through the remnants of the once extensive heathland. Slowly climb uphill through the heather (Calluna vulgaris) where silver-studded blue butterflies dance in the summer sunshine. By the large turkey (Quercus cerris) you will find a bench were you can enjoy a well-earned rest having just passed the halfway point of your walk. Even within living memory you would have been able to enjoy far distant views of the , Ridges and the Fox Hills from this vantage point (55m/180 feet). Although tree cover now obscures this vista, the long-term management plan is to restore this panoramic view for your enjoyment. Having regained your strength, follow the track as it meanders across the top of the hill with some birch scrub on your right. The hill would probably have been fortified from the earliest times and Aubrey, the antiquarian, writes of a “great old dyke” which can still be traced in parts. The name of the nearby village, is spelt, in the earliest records, “werpes, or werbes, dune”. The ending of the name probably means ‘a fortified place’, the dyke here on Jordan’s Hill supports this idea. As you head downhill you catch distant views of the North Downs on your right and Cathedral which was completed in 1961, sitting astride Stag Hill. Continuing downhill you soon enter light woodland and pass through a barway, follow the access track until you reach a pond. This was constructed in the autumn of 2004 and you can see how it is maturing into a rich wildlife haven, enhancing the biodiversity of the heathland edge. When full, it gently leaches back into the woodland behind to create a valuable marshy area. Immediately after the pond you turn left into heather-filled woodland glades to your left where, during the summer months, dragonflies will be busy hunting smaller insects. Re-crossing the stream by the wooden bridge you soon reach a raised footpath which takes you along the edge of the common, with light woodland to your left and open heathland on your right allowing you uninterrupted views. On warm summer evenings you may be lucky enough to hear the gentle churring of nightjars. We hope you have enjoyed your visit. If you have any comments, the Countryside Ranger for this site can be contacted on 07968 832505.

Surrey Wildlife Trust’s mission is to protect and regenerate Surrey’s wildlife.

The Trust is a registered charity (No: 208123). In partnership with we currently manage 80 sites covering over 4,000 hectares of land, for nature conservation and public enjoyment. This includes the Trust’s own nature reserves, SCC’s countryside estate and land managed under access agreements with private landowners. A further 3,200 hectares are managed under a grazing contract with the MOD, making , in terms of land managed, the largest Wildlife Trust in England.

Surrey Wildlife Trust

School Lane, , , Surrey GU24 0JN. 12/08 Tel: 01483 795440 Email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.surreywildlifetrust.org WHITMOOR & RICKFORD COMMONS

Visitor Guide and Self-guided Trails Whitmoor and Rickford Commons Local Nature Reserve The heathland, woods, ponds and streams of these Commons support an abundance of wildlife. With such a range of habitats, Whitmoor has been designated a Local Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Specially Protected Area. The mix of woodland and open heath creates a sense of privacy and peacefulness while giving the walker access to open views and space. People have used this site for thousands of years. Many features, including linear boundaries, can be dated to the Bronze Age. The open heathland was cre- ated by centuries of cutting and grazing, practices that were eventually formalised in commoner’s rights. Local people grazed cattle and collected wood and gorse for fuel, and bracken for animal bedding. The habitats of the heaths and woods were maintained in this way until around the time of the Second World War, when common land grazing waned (during this period, the common was used for military training, including tank testing). If it is neglected, heathland and its wildlife disappear under invading shrubs and trees. Grazing is the best way to maintain heathland. The woodland areas of the site are also managed to create a mosaic of habitats to suit a variety of plants and animals. The site is owned by Surrey County Council and managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust. Self-guided Trails There are three Self-guided Trails, all starting from Salt Box road car park (height restriction at entrance).

1 White Trail ( /2 hr) - sandy surface, narrow in places, no barriers or stiles. Green Trail (1 hour) and Purple Trail (2 hours) - sandy surface, a section of narrow boardwalk, no stiles. Sections of the Purple trail in the north of the site can become muddy. The following text refers to the Green Self-guided Trail; you can decide to take the shorter (white) or longer (purple) option as you progress along the route, all are clearly waymarked. Starting at the car park, look for a wooden post with three circular discs. Walking through the woodlands you are will be able to discern oak, birch and hawthorn trees. The woodland here is self-sown and is the oldest portion of woodland on this southern side of the common. The honeysuckle and bramble that abound here provide cover and food for many insects and birds, as well as small mammals. Turning left once outside the woodlands, you cross the grassy area towards the footpath that leads north across the common. The path is enclosed with gorse and birch. These heathland plants are all part of the rich mosaic that makes a special place for all kinds of animals. At this point you can look for the White Trail waymarkers if you wish to take the short route, otherwise continue to follow the Green and Purple waymarkers. Where the vegetation is lower, you can see ling heather as well as dwarf gorse. The wooden boardwalk, across the boggier ground, provides a chance to see across the common and its open space.

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For details of public transport in Surrey call Traveline 0870 608 2608 www.traveline.org. As you approach woodland again you will cross a bridge over the central stream. Water voles use the waterway as a feeding and living space. Along the banks we also have himalayan balsam; this pretty plant is becoming a pest on the common and efforts are being made to reduce it here. Following the surfaced path, you will discover a peaceful open glade of heather. Recently cleared, this area is beginning to show many signs of improvement, not helped by the rapid reinvasion of young birch. Lloyd George, former Prime Minister, once owned the white house which you will pass on your right. You now come to a road used by local residents. At this point you can look for the Purple Trail yards waymarkers if you wish to take the longer route, otherwise continue to follow the 00 metres P Green waymarkers. The Green Trail On this heathland track you will come to Brook

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uk OS Explorer map 145 covers this area.