Beta
Curated by Amelia Finn and 2 others
Horsell Common is a cherished pocket of Nature just south of London, home to a rich diversity of heathland, woodland, a small wetland, and home to birds such as the Dartford Warbler, along with animals like deer, moles and rarely, badger.
Walker in forest Horsell Common Phill Pullinger
About the region
Horsell Common, located south of London, has a rich and diverse range of heathland habitats, from open stretches of heathland and acidic grasses to bogs, heathland ponds, and shady woodland to build dens in. The Common supports a variety of plants and animals, with several local and rare species calling it home.
With two Bronze Age burial sites dating to between 2500 - 700 BC, a peaceful memorial garden to Muslim soldiers, and the landing site of the Martians in ‘The War of the Worlds’ all sitting within Horsell Common, this pocket of nature is rich with history, as well as flora and fauna.
Horsell Common is owned by the Horsell Common Preservation Society (HCPS), who work diligently to protect and rejuvenate this area. Much of the information used in this field guide is courtesy of HCPS.
For more information or to donate to their cause, please visit the Horsell Common Preservation Society website.
Heathland dog walking
Horsell Common Woodland
The sun shining down on the Common
Autumn at The Sandpit
Child walking in Horsell Common
Badger - a rare Horsell Common visitor
The Dartford Warbler - an important bird of the common
Red Fox - a cheeky Common local
Forest horsell common Phill Pullinger
Conservation
Holding onto precious Nature
Holding onto, nurturing and restoring Natural heritage at the edge of a city of more than 10 million people, is incredibly challenging but crucial.
A large part of Horsell Common has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The open heathland areas form part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA), under the terms of the European Birds Directive.
This pocket of nature is of European importance for supporting breeding populations of three bird species: Nightjar, Woodlark and Dartford Warbler. There are also meadows by the River Bourne, the wetlands area at Heather Farm, and woodlands, which all host a diverse range of species.
Today, Belted Galloway cattle graze in the grasslands, as part of the conservation programme for the area, which is designated a Special Protection Area (SPA). Regular grazing supports the regeneration of heather as the cattle eat birch, gorse and grasses, which could otherwise out compete the heathers.
HCPS recognises the value of woodland for amenity, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation. We will always have woodlands at Horsell Common. HCPS have a ten-year forestry plan in place which has been agreed by the Forestry Commission and Natural England and allows them to carry out woodland operations on the Common. The woodland is being carefully managed to open up areas for heather to regenerate and to create a richer and more diverse habitat with stands of trees of different ages and more varied species.
14 acres of concrete and 155,000 sq ft of derelict buildings were removed from the Wetlands at Heather Farm. Volunteers planted 15,000 reeds and other water loving plants at the new Wetland Centre at Heather Farm.
Grasslands Horsell Common
Nature
Horsell Common is a precious and critically important patch of Nature at the outskirts of London. London is a heaving city of more than 10 million people, the heart of England's financial district. Millions of people live busy, stressful lives where their ability to connect with the Natural world is limited.
This is why a precious patch of Nature, like the wonderful Horsell Common, is so important.
Horsell Common is home to many different important bird species, including the wonderful Dartford Warbler, the Nightjar and the Woodlark.
Animals such as the roe deer, moles, the red fox, and rarely, badgers and hedgehogs, also are found to frequent the wonderful common.
Important habitat types from heathland, to wetland, the sandpits, and areas of woodland and picturesque rivulets also provide habitat to a rich myriad of plant and insect species.
Community
The community in and around Horsell Common treasure this special patch of Nature.
Walkers, birders, Naturalists and people wanting to connect with the Natural world from the local villages, London and beyond, have a deep connection with this very special place.
Horsell Common is owned by the Horsell Common Preservation Society (HCPS), who work diligently to protect and rejuvenate this area. Much of the information used in this field guide is courtesy of HCPS.
For more information or to donate to their cause, please visit the Horsell Common Preservation Society website.
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