Esher Commons facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Oxshott Heath on the escarpment
|
|
| Area of Search | Surrey |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 360.1 hectares (890 acres) |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Esher Commons is a large natural area in Surrey, England. It covers about 360 hectares (almost 900 acres). This special place is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its important plants, animals, or geology.
Esher Commons includes several different areas. These are Esher Common, Fairmile Common, West End Common, and Oxshott Heath. Esher Common and West End Common are also Local Nature Reserves. This means they are important for wildlife and for people to enjoy.
Contents
What is Esher Commons Like?
Land and Soil
The land at Esher Commons has different types of soil. Some areas have damp clay soil. Other parts have sandy soil and gravel. There are also areas with peat, which is made from old, decayed plants. These different soils create many kinds of homes for plants and animals.
Trees and Plants
The Commons is mostly covered by woodland. You can find both trees that lose their leaves in autumn (deciduous) and trees that stay green all year (coniferous). Common trees here include oak, beech, silver birch, and Scots pine. These trees are at different ages, from young saplings to old, tall trees.
Besides forests, there are also areas of open grassland. You can also find marshes, bogs, and open water. These wet areas are very important. They provide homes for many different kinds of plants and animals.
How the Land Has Changed
Esher Commons was not always covered in so many trees. A long time ago, much of it was open heathland. Local people used to let their animals graze there. This means animals like cows or sheep would eat the plants.
For many years, animals did not graze on the land. Because of this, many trees grew back. Some of these new forests were planted in the 1950s. These are called "secondary woodlands" because they grew after the original open land changed.
In 2015, a new project started. Goats were brought to a small part of Esher Commons. They helped to clear some of the plants. This helps to bring back the open heathland that was there before.
The A3 road bypass was built through Esher Common in 1974. To make up for this, about 90 acres of new land were added to the Commons. This new land included areas like The Ledges and Middle Pond.
Exploring Esher Common
Esher Common is a big part of the Esher Commons area. It has several ponds and lakes. The biggest one is called Black Pond. This pond used to provide water for the nearby Claremont Landscape Garden. This beautiful garden is now looked after by the National Trust.
You can park your car to visit Esher Common. There are parking spots on the A307 (also known as the old Portsmouth Road) and the A244 (Copsem Lane).
Exploring West End Common
West End Common is another important part of Esher Commons. It includes an area called The Ledges. This is a raised bank of land next to the River Mole.
You can use the same parking areas on the A307 to reach West End Common. You can also get to it from the village of West End.
