Clandon Wood

10/06/2026

A polite reminder to please not pull ragwort and leave it on the ground.

Ragwort is an important native wildflower and a valuable food source for many insects, including the striking cinnabar moth caterpillar, which is why we don't blanket-eradicate it at Clandon Wood.

However, once pulled and left to dry, ragwort becomes a danger to grazing animals. Had our grounds team not spotted and removed this pile, it could easily have found its way into the hay crop used to feed the working horses here.

If you'd like to help manage ragwort properly, why not join our Friday volunteers or come along to one of our dedicated Ragwort Days? The next one is on Friday 3rd July.

To find out more, please email Phil at [email protected].

08/06/2026

Keep an eye out for one of Clandon Wood's most distinctive summer visitors – the Comma butterfly.

Its bright orange wings and jagged edges help it blend in perfectly with fallen leaves, while the tiny white comma-shaped mark underneath gives it its name.

If you're taking a stroll through the meadows or woodland paths, you might be lucky enough to spot one basking in the sunshine.

04/06/2026

Clandon Wood in June

I like to think of Clandon Wood as a theatre.

The trees that had the starring role in spring are now simply the backdrop for the summer meadow. It's awash with colour from a wonderful supporting cast, but in June the headline acts arrive.

Keep an eye out for bee orchid, pyramidal orchid and common spotted orchid, along with other botanical stars such as common broomrape and grass vetchling.

Above the meadow, swifts, house martins and swallows put on their aerial display, before handing over to their evening understudy, the common pipistrelle bat.

There are guest appearances from a host of butterflies and moths, while from the orchestra pit come the songs of grasshoppers and crickets – heard far more often than they are seen.

One of the great pleasures of working here is watching the cast change with the seasons.

— Phil, Senior Groundsman



Pictured: bee orchid, grass vetchling and common broomrape

01/06/2026

Mindfulness Teacher Nick Hammond, invites you to a relaxing evening of meditation, mindfulness and discussion at Clandon Wood Nature Reserve.

The 60-75 minute session will include discussion of what mindfulness is and the benefits it can bring. Nick will guide you through mindfulness exercises, and give you tips on how to integrate mindful behaviours into your everyday life.

The session will start at 6.45 pm on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 and you are welcome to arrive at anytime from 5.00pm to spend some quiet, unhurried time in the calm beauty of our meadows and woodland.

Book online:

Join us on July 1st, 2026!

22/05/2026

Four hungry kestrel chicks feeding. Apologies for the smudgy lens!

22/05/2026

The meadows at Clandon Wood are looking especially green and vibrant at the moment, with wildflowers continuing to emerge across the grounds.

Our grounds team have been busy mowing and maintaining pathways throughout the meadow areas to ensure easy access to graves and memorial spaces for all visitors spending time with loved ones.

20/05/2026

Spring flowers at Clandon Wood

The combination of warm days, plenty of sun and the rain we have experienced this spring has led to a profusion of flowering plants and blossoming trees at Clandon Wood, the beauty of which we have managed to capture in this short film.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1191331492

18/05/2026

One of the first Greater Whitethroats has been heard at Clandon.

That scratchy, hurried song drifting out from the hedgerows is easy to miss if you’re not listening for it, but once you know it, it’s unmistakable. These small, understated birds travel thousands of miles to be here, arriving each spring to breed before quietly slipping away again at the end of summer.

'

16/05/2026

Sinatra at Sunset
Saturday 20th June 7pm - 9pm

Come and join us for a delightful open-air concert in and around our glass pavilion in collaboration with Guildford Fringe. Frank Cognoscenti, a renowned Sinatra specialist who has performed at Ronnie Scott’s and Pizza Express Jazz, will be accompanied by his quartet of exceptional musicians, including Ken McArthy on piano, Gavin Scott on double bass, Steward Curtis on sax/flute, and Steve Vintner on drums. They will be performing the very best of Sinatra’s repertoire, spanning show tunes, jazz standards, swing, pop, and bossa nova.

Please remember to bring your own blanket, seats, picnics and umbrella. Gates will open at 6pm.

Under 16’s are free but please email [email protected] to let them know so they have an accurate number for the event.

All profits will be donated to Crossroads Care Surrey
TICKETS £30

Book via the link below and see the Guildford Fringe website for more details.
https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/gpwjdddpabdm

15/05/2026

Tea, Cake & Company

Sunday 31st May 2026 from 11:30 - 2:30

Come and join us in our glass pavilion for a cup of tea or coffee and some cake.
Open to anyone who has been bereaved, the Clandon Wood Drop In Days offer a chance to be among others who share the experience of loss.

Talking helps. Having a space where death is not a taboo is important. And knowing that others who have experienced something similar are there to support you is a relief.

George, Ailean and Marion host these special Sundays, along with our very helpful volunteers Gary and Michael and although we won’t be offering professional bereavement support we think that kindness and company is sometimes all that is needed.

We look forward to seeing you.