Hello everyone, Welcome to our summer newsletter!

As we head into the school holidays, Limpsfield Common is looking beautiful, with the heather beginning to bloom, butterflies emerging and woodland paths providing welcome shade for walkers. However, the prolonged spell of hot, dry weather is taking its toll on our wildlife and habitats, making this one of the most challenging times of year for the Common.

In this edition you’ll find some simple ways you can help protect wildlife during the heat, important advice on reducing the risk of countryside fires, exciting news about funding for several major improvement projects, and a fond farewell to our Ranger, India Davies, who is moving on to a new National Trust role. You’ll also find ideas for making the most of the Common over the summer holidays, including taking part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count…

The prolonged dry weather also means the fire risk remains exceptionally high. Please do not smoke on the Common, never light BBQs or campfires, and always take glass bottles or broken glass home with you. You may not realise that glass left in the countryside can act like a magnifying glass in the sun and is a significant cause of grass fires. If you see smoke or fire, please move to a place of safety and call 999 immediately. Thank you for helping us protect this special place.

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered or visited our stand at the Chart Fair. It was wonderful to meet so many of you, and we’re delighted that our nest box kits proved so popular, helping us raise valuable funds for the Common. If you missed out, don’t worry – you’ll find simple instructions on our website showing you how to make your own nest box from scratch. 

We are very much looking forward to our second 2026 Air Raid Shelters open day this Sunday, 19 July and thank everyone who came along to our Surrey Day one which raised both awareness of our endeavours but also some much welcomed cash to put towards the maintenance of this important site. 

We’re delighted to share some fantastic news. Our bid for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding has been approved! This funding will enable us to move forward with a number of exciting projects, including footpath improvements, enhancements to the Air Raid Shelters site, a new Heritage & WWII History Trail, and, of course, the long-awaited Yalden Spring rejuvenation project. We look forward to sharing updates as these projects progress.

There is also some bittersweet news. After just under a year with us, our Ranger, India Davies, has moved on to become Ranger at Leith Hill – another National Trust property, much closer to home. While we’re naturally sorry to see her leave, we’re absolutely delighted for her and wish her every success in this exciting new role.

India has achieved an incredible amount during her time at Limpsfield Common. She asked us to share this message with you:

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the Ranger for Limpsfield Common. The community here has welcomed me with open arms, and I’ve been deeply impressed by the connection, coordination and shared passion for caring for both people and nature. This kind of collaboration is increasingly rare and is one of the many things that make Limpsfield such a special place.

While I’m excited about this next step, it is bittersweet to leave when we have made such strong progress together. Projects such as Yalden Spring, the CIL bid, footpath resurfacing and heathland restoration represent important steps forward, and I’m confident they will continue to bring real benefits to Limpsfield.

I will always be grateful for my time as part of this community and proud of what we have achieved together. I know the work here will continue to evolve, and I hope the strong sense of community and shared purpose that defines Limpsfield will remain at its heart.”
– India Davies

We’re pleased to say that Judith Ressler continues as Area Manager, while Mark Richards, Facilities Manager for the National Trust Surrey Hills and a long-standing resident of Limpsfield Chart, will support the Task Force on an interim basis until a new Ranger is appointed.

In the meantime, there are lots of ways you can continue to help care for the Common. Please bag and bin dog waste, pick up any litter you come across during your walks, and report anything of concern by emailing: limpsfieldcommon@nationaltrust.org.uk or calling the dedicated Outwood depot number on 01342 843225.

We hope you’ll make the most of our wonderful trails over the summer holidays – find them on our website, here. Why not download the Merlin Bird ID app and discover who’s singing around you? Or take part in the Big Butterfly Count 2026, running from 17 July to 9 August. Organised by Butterfly Conservation, this nationwide survey helps monitor the health of the UK’s butterfly populations. It’s free, easy to take part in, and there’s even a handy mobile app for recording your sightings. Head to the Butterfly Conservation website: http://butterfly-conservation.org/

Limpsfield Common is home to a wonderful variety of butterflies, particularly around the heathland and woodland edges, so keep your eyes peeled! You’ll also find a butterfly spotter sheet on the Flora & Fauna page of our website (along with lots of other spotter sheets).

Finally, please save the date for the Friends of Limpsfield Common Annual Public Meeting:

📅 Saturday 12 September
🕦 11.30am

There will be a presentation on the year’s activities and future projects, followed by a Q&A session and refreshments. We’d love to see as many of you there as possible.

Until then, thank you once again for your continued support. Have a wonderful summer, enjoy the Common, and please help us keep it safe for everyone – people and wildlife alike.