Working with the National Trust to preserve Limpsfield Common for future generations
From Friday, 18 July to Sunday, 10 August 2025, Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count will once again turn tens of thousands of nature‑lovers into citizen‑scientists. By spending just 15 minutes counting butterflies (and day‑flying moths) on your favourite heath, common, woodland glade – or even in your own garden – you’ll create a vital snapshot of how these insects are faring across the UK.
Continue reading “Join the Big Butterfly Count 2025 on Limpsfield Common”
Tucked on the edge of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, our beautiful Limpsfield Common is a charming mix of ancient woodland and open heathland. Managed by the National Trust, it offers a haven for wildlife and a perfect escape for summer walkers and nature lovers alike. When you’re next out on a walk, why not see what species of plants and wildlife you can spot. Find our handy spotter sheets here.
Continue reading “Summer Wildlife at Limpsfield Common: Flora and Fauna to Spot”
Explore the beauty of Limpsfield Common with National Trust Ranger Conor McNeil on a series of guided walks running once or twice a month through to August! 🌳👣
Discover local wildlife, conservation efforts, and the rich history of these stunning landscapes. The first walk kicks off on Saturday, 12th April at High Chart (1-3pm), where you’ll learn about woodland management, Yalden Spring, and the historic use of the area. Meet by the noticeboard at High Chart Car Park (not Pinewood), on Moorhouse Road.
📅 Upcoming Walks:
🌲 April 12 – High Chart (1-3pm) | Woodland management & Yalden Spring
🍄 May 3 – Ridlands Grove (10-11 am * change in time) | Ancient woodland & biodiversity
🌾 June 7 – Happy Valley (1-2pm) | Heathland restoration & foraging
🌳 June 28 – High Chart (10-11am) | Conservation & local heritage
🍂 July 26 – Ridlands Grove (1-3pm) | Connectivity & flora/fauna
🐦 August 16 – West Heath (10-11am) | Biodiversity loss & garden escapes
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to learn and explore
April 12th – High Chart (1-3pm) – Meet by the noticeboard at High Chart Car Park (not Pinewood), on Moorhouse Road
May 3rd – Ridlands Grove (10-11AM) – Meet by the noticeboard at Ridlands Grove Car Park, Ridlands Lane
June 7th – Happy Valley (1-2pm) – Meet by the noticeboard at New Road Car Park, New Road
June 28th – High Chart (10-11am) – Meet by the noticeboard at High Chart Car Park, Moorhouse Road
July 26th – Ridlands Grove (1-3pm) – Meet by the noticeboard at Ridlands Grove Car Park, Ridlands Lane
August 16th – West Heath (10-11am) – Meet at the entrance to West Heath woods opposite Hazelwood School, Wolf’s Hill.
See you there!
Yalden Spring, just a few hundred metres from the High Chart car park, is an incredibly special habitat. With our work on its regeneration well underway, we are seeing very positive signs of it becoming a “wetland heath” area, which is rare indeed and very good news for Limpsfield Common. But we need you to help us by keeping your dogs out of the pond. Here’s a friendly reminder as to why…
Continue reading “Why we need you to help keep dogs out of Yalden Spring”
Limpsfield Common (owned by the National Trust) is commons land, aka open access land, on which the “right to roam” applies. Right to roam includes activities such as walking, running, watching wildlife and climbing, but other activities may not be allowed or may require permission.
Below is a run-down of the various rules that apply to Limpsfield Common and how you can help us to preserve this wonderful place for generations to come…
Continue reading “Respecting the rules on Limpsfield Common (open access land) to help preserve the area for future generations”
People often ask why we are clearing areas of woodland, felling trees and fencing off pathways. We are also often asked about the tree harvesting work on the High Chart, which is not on NT land (ie. Titsey Estate).
In this post, we explain the clearing of woodlands and tree harvesting at Limpsfield Chart, both on National Trust land and the private Titsey Estate-owned land, and highlight the importance of active woodland management for biodiversity, pest control, and climate change mitigation, with a focus on the importance of sustainable practices, public engagement, and heritage preservation for future generations…
Continue reading “Woodland Management for the future health of Limpsfield Common and The High Chart”
One or two people have commented about the increase in duck weed in Yalden Spring over the last few months and asked if this is to do with the prevention of dogs going for a swim. We thought we’d publish some information on why the duck weed isn’t a bad thing, and why we have built the dead hedging to prevent dogs going into the pond…
Continue reading “Why duck weed in Yalden Spring isn’t a bad thing… but dogs are”
Dear Members,
Thank you very much to those of you who were able to join the Annual Public Meeting this year. We appreciated your company and your questions and we hope you enjoyed the occasion.
For those of you who were unable to join us we hope the information below gives you an update of the year, and a flavour of the activities that take place across the Common.
If you have any questions please do contact us at friendsoflimpsfieldcommon@gmail.com
Thank you for your support and interest,
The Friends of Limpsfield Common
Continue reading “Members Autumn Update – 2024”
How amazing is Yalden Spring looking at the moment? The conservation of this beautiful place in the Chart woods, and bringing it back to SSSI standards is one of our main priorities for ecological reasons. It’s an absolute haven for so many species of wildlife, but particularly important for reptiles and amphibians.
Frogs and newts are incredibly important to wildlife and ecosystems for a variety of reasons, contributing to biodiversity, food chains, and environmental health. Helping the frogs, toads, newts and other amphibians of Limpsfield Common is why preserving Yalden Spring is one of our key project priorities.
Here’s why frogs, toads and newts are crucial to Limpsfield Common and the environment in general…
Continue reading “The importance of frogs, toads and newts and why preserving Yalden Spring is a priority…”
It’s been a very busy summer on Limpsfield Common. The emergence of heather on the Chart and Moorhouse Bank has signalled positive habitat restoration. Volunteer efforts have aided bracken management and waymarking improvements. However, challenges such as fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour at local car parks remain an issue. The National Trust continues to engage the community through Ranger walks and media outreach.
Here’s a full report from our Ranger, Conor McNeil.
Continue reading “Limpsfield Ranger’s Report – Summer 2024”
Friends of Limpsfield Common 