Banstead Commons

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Banstead Commons Conservators - manage Banstead Commons under statute. The Commons are: Banstead Heath, Banstead Downs, Burgh Heath and Park Downs.

Banstead Commons consist of four separate areas of common land in the north of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead, namely Banstead Heath, Banstead Downs, Park Downs and Burgh Heath. The Commons are managed by the Banstead Commons Conservators who have a statutory duty to ensure safe and free access of the public to the commons and to protect the commons from damage and trespass. This was origin

ally intended, as much as anything, to protect the Commons from their owners although in this more enlightened age we hope that threats from this direction are unlikely. As well as providing important recreational areas, the open spaces of the commons are important wildlife habitats. Banstead Downs and Park Downs are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), an important aspect of their attraction to a large number of users. Banstead Heath is classified as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance and an Area of Great Landscape Value. In an age of increasing urbanization this imparts certain responsibilities to manage with maintenance of the wildlife value in mind.

06/09/2026

Spotting wildlife on Banstead Commons

The Southern Oak Bush-cricket (Meconema meridionale) spotted on Banstead Downs this week. This arboreal species of cricket was only first recorded in the UK in 2001, having migrated from Southern Europe (probably on cars' wheels!) and is now more widespread throughout the UK; although this was the first time our photographer had seen one on the Commons.

Hard to distinguish from the native Oak Bush-cricket, apart from through one feature: as an adult, the wings remain tiny buds, and hence this cricket is completely flightless.

Photograph: Neil Gray

04/09/2026

We were delighted to welcome the Mayor and Borough Councillors to the Banstead Commons Conservators’ (BCC) Depot today to officially unveil our new office and welfare facilities. 🎉

Made possible thanks to funding from the Love Reigate and Banstead Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the improvements provide a much-needed, modern base for our small team.

BCC manages 1,350 acres of protected landscapes, caring for these special places for both people and wildlife. Our depot is the hub of that work - providing office space, welfare facilities and essential storage for the machinery, grazing infrastructure and equipment used to maintain and protect the Commons.

A huge thank you to Love Reigate and Banstead for making this project possible!

Downlands Grazing Partnership

04/09/2026

𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬

Whilst our grasslands are still looking parched and dry, the pockets of heathland across appear to have fared better during the drought.

This mosaic of habitats plays an important role in supporting a healthy and diverse ecosystem, providing valuable for a wide range of wildlife and plant species.

When visiting our sites, please help us protect these special habitats by keeping paws on the paths and remembering to bag it and bin it. 🐾

Thank you for helping us care for Banstead Heath and the wildlife that calls it home. 💚

30/08/2026

Spotting Wildlife on Banstead Commons

This common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) was spotted on Banstead Downs last week. A rather unexpected encounter, photographer Neil Gray said, 'One minute I was photographing a small hoverfly, and the next it disappeared and I had this lizard in my viewfinder! Only my second lizard ever on Banstead Downs'.

Common lizards can live for around 5 years, and enjoy basking in sunny spots on heathland and woodland. If threatened by a predator, it will shed its still moving tail in order to distract the attacker and make a quick getaway! It can regrow its tail, although it is usually shorter than the original.

27/08/2026

𝐖𝐄’𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 – 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐑 🌿

Are you passionate about the countryside, conservation and protecting wildlife? We’re looking for a new Commons Keeper to join our small, dedicated team at Banstead Commons Conservators.

The role involves the day-to-day management and maintenance of our four wonderful sites – Banstead Downs, Park Downs, Burgh Heath and Banstead Heath.

A qualification or interest in countryside management, conservation, arboriculture or a related discipline would be valuable, and we welcome applications from people with a wide range of experience and backgrounds. We’re looking for someone who is practical, reliable, a good communicator and comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a hands-on role in protecting and preserving Banstead Commons for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive.

📄 Download the Job Description and Application Form via our website: https://bansteadcommons.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/

24/08/2026

𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕡𝕒𝕨 𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕤 🐾

Your dog's a star ⭐️ and you are too when you clean up after them whilst visiting our beautiful commons 🐕️🌿

21/08/2026

A big 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 to Reigate and Banstead Beat (Surrey Police) and the local resident who helped ensure there is now one less dirt bike tearing across Banstead Commons!

Thanks to the prompt action of a resident this week, Surrey Police were able to respond while the incident was taking place, apprehend the rider and seize the vehicle.

Mechanically propelled vehicles are not permitted on registered common land, and there are a number of laws in place to prevent nuisance, damage and dangerous driving on our open spaces.

We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to report illegal activity to the Police at the time it is happening. Agencies are working together to tackle and prevent this activity, but we need your help to make sure enforcement officers can get to the right location at the right time.

Thank you to everyone who continues to report incidents and help us protect Commons. We will not let a minority damage and the destroy the peace and traquility that can be found amoungst our protected landscapes.

Love Reigate and Banstead The Mother Goose Patrol Burgh Heath Residents' Association

11/08/2026

Sunday was the last day of Butterfly Conservation’s 🦋

Here is a selection of photographs taken by the volunteers on the Commons' transects during the Big Butterfly Count season :

Chalkhill blue (Polyommatus coridon)
Marbled white (Melanargia galathea)
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
And last, but certainly not least, the very special and rarely seen silver-spotted skipper (Hesperia comma)!

Thank you to everyone who has taken part this year, and to those who have shared photographs.

The annual UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme transects on Banstead Commons continue to operate weekly, thanks to local volunteers, until the end of September, helping to evaluate national insect trends.

10/08/2026

🔥 **Extreme Fire Risk on Banstead Commons**

The UK is currently experiencing its fifth heatwave of the summer, creating an 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 across our chalk grassland and heath habitats.

Last week, our operations team had to clear the remains of a bonfire on Banstead Downs, along with a significant amount of associated rubbish. In these conditions it poses a very real danger to wildlife, the landscape, and public safety.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟗𝟗𝟗 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 — early reporting is vital and could prevent a small incident becoming a major wildfire.

⚠️ When visiting the Commons:
• Do not light BBQs, campfires or bonfires - this is against our act and byelaws and is illegal.
• Take all litter home – especially glass bottles
• Dispose of ci******es responsibly
It only takes a single spark to start a wildfire, with consequences that can last for years.

🙏 Thank you to local residents who continue to report concerns and help us protect and preserve Banstead Commons.

04/08/2026

There still time to take part in Butterfly Conservation’s 🦋🙌!

Today's butterfly spotted on the Commons is the brown argus (Aricia agestis), part of the family of blue butterflies (Lycaenidae - gossamer-winged), seen here feeding on common ragwort

This picture beautifully captures both its bronzy-brown upperwing, with an orange band of spots, and the underwing, with its series of white spots with black centres.

Brown argus or common blue female?
It can be hard to tell the female common blue apart from the brown argus, as they have very similar colouring and markings.

Here you can clearly see the orange lunules along the outer edge of the upperwing, which are much more distinctive than the common blue female (also there would be no hint of blue sheen in the wings of a brown argus). Another fascinating difference concerns the spots on the underwings. Whilst the common blue only has one spot at the leading edge of the hind wing, the brown argus has another spot very close to it, making a sort of figure of eight shape.

Look closely if you see such a butterfly - is it a brown argus or a female common blue?

Photo:
Neil Gray on Banstead Downs

Find out how to take part 👉 http://bigbutterflycount.org
Butterfly Conservation’s is back 🦋🙌

Address

PO Box 680
Banstead
KT179PR

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+447919251512

Website

http://www.bansteadcommons.org.uk/

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