Banstead Commons

There's still time to join this Sunday's Banstead Swifts guided walk. Reserve your FREE tickets on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swifts-and-the-sky-buffet-guided-walk-tickets-1990784031629

The entrance to the event is on High Down Road.
What3Words location: card.onions.keep
Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hakEtUPhACS1ynF57
Grid reference: TQ2594561683

Today is meaning it is the longest day of the year.

We hope you are enjoying this lovely weather and making the most of the sunshine ☀️

Love Reigate and Banstead

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬

They may not be the rarest residents on the Commons, but they are certainly among the cutest!

Our Canada Goose goslings are growing fast and are now beginning to learn how to fly under the watchful eye of their parents. It's fair to say they've become some of our most photographed residents this year!

A huge thank you to the local residents and regular visitors who have helped keep an eye on these birds and other wildlife around our ponds. Your support plays an important role in protecting the wildlife and habitats that make the Commons such a special place.

While the actions of a small minority can sometimes cause concern, they do not diminish the enjoyment that our wildlife brings to thousands of visitors every year.

If you've captured any photos of fledgling families this year, we'd love to see them in the comments below!

📸 Ian Mockford

The Mother Goose Patrol
Burgh Heath Residents' Association

Our multi-disciplinary countryside team are out in force on Banstead Heath today.

Clearing invasive Cherry Laurel from a bridleway and scything bracken from the historic enclosures (listed monuments), they are helping to protect and enhance this special landscape for wildlife and people alike.

Thanks to the support of our funding partners, we have the tools, skills and resources to carry out this sensitive management work alongside our fantastic volunteers.

What better way to spend a warm and pleasant Thursday? 🌿☀️

Thank you to everyone helping to support our work and care for Banstead Commons.

Downlands Trust
Love Reigate and Banstead
Natural England
Farming in Protected Landscapes
Surrey Hills Society

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬

Banstead Commons supports a remarkable variety of butterflies, including some of the UK's rarest species. The mix of rare and nationally declining habitats across the Commons make them important sites for butterfly conservation.

We host four United Kingdom Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) transects, with Banstead Downs boasting the longest-running butterfly transect in Surrey. The UKBMS is one of the longest-running insect monitoring schemes in the world, and the data collected by our dedicated volunteer surveyors contributes to this national recording programme.

We're also fortunate to benefit from the wonderful photographs captured by volunteers on our sites.

Thank you to Clare Cseh-Menczer and for sharing these beautiful images of Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus) butterflies photographed on Banstead Downs this week.

Butterfly Conservation
Butterfly Conservation in Surrey

Today’s visit to the Surrey History Centre in Woking was a powerful reminder of why preserving our past matters.

Reviewing original maps from 1894, newspaper cuttings, correspondence and records relating to the formation of our Act and byelaws brought into focus the many statutory duties we continue to carry out today. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬; 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞.

Exploring these archives with the Centre’s staff also highlighted the foresight and commitment of those who secured lasting protection for this landscape. The Metropolitan Commons (Banstead) Supplemental Act 1893 remains unique in safeguarding the land from development and activities that could alter its character, ensuring the natural and varied environment is preserved.

Today, the Commons continue to offer space for access, recreation and wellbeing, while supporting a rich diversity of wildlife. Protecting them is not only about meeting our responsibilities, but about preserving a shared heritage for generations to come. 🌿

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬

The Emperor Dragonfly has the largest wingspan of Britain's dragonfly species. They can be found on the wing during the summer months June to September.

Males are territorial and during warm sunny days, can be seen patrolling over . They tend to settle in dull weather which enabled our team to capture this shot on the Heath this week.

Emperor dragonflies are abundant throughout southern England and Wales - keep your eyes peeled for these beauties on your next walk!

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬

It is a busy time of the year on the Commons for its residents, with many adults scanning the landscape looking for tasty morsels to feed their young in the nest.

Keep your eyes open for birds with beak and tallons loaded with prey to feed their young, just like this female Kestrel.

🐾 To help our wildlife thrive during this important breeding season, please stick to the main paths and keep dogs under close control. 🐾

Thank you for helping us protect the Commons and its wildlife.

Photo credit: P McNamee

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬

Our staff were delighted to spot this beautiful female Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) on Banstead Heath last week.

Did you know that slow worms aren't actually snakes? They're legless lizards!

Their breeding season runs from April to June, and courtship is surprisingly intense. Mating can last for up to 10 hours, with the male gripping the female by the head or neck while their bodies intertwine.

If you look closely at these photos, you can see the bite marks left by the male during the mating process. This female is likely gravid (carrying young) and, after a gestation period of around three months, will give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.

Slow worms are a fascinating and protected part of our local wildlife, so it's always a privilege to encounter them on the Heath. 💚

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 🌿💚

Today’s 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 brought together work party volunteers, livestock monitors, wildlife monitors and conservators - all of whom give up their free time to help us care for our beautiful Banstead Commons.

We enjoyed a fascinating guided walk led by David, who shared his knowledge of the highly specialised flora and fauna found on the chalk downland of Park Downs. Along the way, we spotted a wonderful variety of wildlife, including large white and small heath butterflies, as well as a striking large yellow underwing moth 🦋

And of course… there was cake galore 🍰 with some truly fabulous homemade bakes to top it all off.

This event is just a small token of thanks for the countless hours our volunteers dedicate to helping maintain our wonderful commons — we are so grateful 💚