Ashtead Common

12/02/2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team at Ashtead Common as an Assistant Ranger.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Ranger to help care for this beautiful 200-hectare National Nature Reserve, support habitat and estate management activities, engage with visitors, and work alongside volunteers and contractors.

Applications close at 12 noon on 20 February 2026. To apply, or for more information, please visit: https://cityoflondon.jobs.hr.cloud.sap/job/Assistant-Ranger-Ashtead/1089-en_GB

15/09/2025

⚠️ Yellow Weather Warning – Strong Winds ⚠️

The Met Office has issued a Yellow Weather Warning for strong winds in our area today (Monday, 15 September).

For your safety, we strongly advise avoiding Ashtead Common during this period. Because trees are still in full leaf, they are more vulnerable to damage, increasing the risk of falling branches or even whole trees — including in areas that may look sheltered.

Our Rangers will continue to monitor conditions and will carry out post-storm safety checks once wind speeds have dropped below the safety threshold.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us keep everyone safe 🙏

Please share this message with anyone planning a visit.

12/06/2025

🚧 Bridleway 38 resurfacing works – starting week of 16th June 🚧

Please be advised that resurfacing works will begin on Bridleway 38 during the week commencing 16th June, to repair damage along the track.

👷‍♂️ Heavy machinery and vehicles will be in operation during this time.
🐶 For everyone's safety, please take extra care and ensure dogs are kept under close control.
🚫 Temporary access restrictions may be in place while works are underway.

We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience and cooperation as we carry out these essential improvements.

Thank you.

22/05/2025

We were very happy to host the Surrey County Council Flood Risk, Planning, and Consenting team for a corporate volunteer day earlier this week. The team took on the task of installing one of our new leaky dams —a project closely aligned with their expertise and passion. They did a fantastic job, and we’re truly grateful for their support.

07/05/2025

Later today, we'll welcome the Belted Galloway cattle as they return to graze selected areas of Ashtead Common. These gentle grazers play a vital role in creating a rich and diverse wood pasture system, benefiting wildflowers and native grasses.

After a successful trial last year, we’re continuing to use the NoFence system—so you won’t see electric fencing, but the grazing areas will still be clearly signposted.

📍 Want to know where the cattle are? Visit https://grazingmap.nofence.no/ or scan the QR code on one of our posters onsite with your phone’s camera for their real-time GPS location once they’ve arrived. For this, you will have to allow location settings on your device.

12/10/2024

We had a great time hosting an entire Ranger team get-together with colleagues from other City of London Open Spaces within 'The Commons' network.

The Ashtead team led a guided tour of the National Nature Reserve, showcasing key conservation efforts. The team explained what we get up to from science-led veteran tree management to how we create our site furniture from timber cut on Ashtead Common. The team also talked about how we're expanding conservation grazing through innovative satellite fencing technology and trialing a number of 'leaky dams', designed to slow the flow of water into the River Rye with the dual purpose of flood prevention and creating ephemeral ponds for wildlife.

While these big team gatherings are rare, they are a brilliant opportunity for us Rangers to hear what other teams are doing, share knowledge, and maybe even learn a thing or two!

11/10/2024

The nighttime sky has delivered another spectacle. Who was awake last night? Did you brave the cold to take pictures of an amazing display of Aurora Borealis above the Common? Please share your photos; we would love to see them!

08/10/2024

During a recent patrol of the Common, the Ranger Team came across a rather lonely looking abandoned crab apple tree located in one of the grazing areas left hidden in a scrub. The tree looks healthy and it will find a lovely home not on the Common.

Although it is done with the best intentions, planting trees on the Common is prohibited for a reason. As a part of our management, we encourage the natural regeneration of trees that come from the resident population. Introducing trees from unknown sources, such as those grown in the garden or purchased from reputable sources, can bring unwanted pathogens (fungi and bacterial diseases), posing a biosecurity threat to an ecologically and internationally important site.

20/09/2024

Last call for our Veteran Tree Walk this Sunday, 1.30pm! 🌳🔎🍂

Join one of our Rangers for a walk through the woods of Ashtead Common and learn about the ancient technique of pollarding, how we care for old trees today, and the methods we prioritize in their management. Discover the science behind arboricultural work on Ashtead Common, explore the silvicultural techniques used in the modern care of ancient pollards, and find out what a habitat called wood pasture is.

To book, please visit Eventbrite:

Join the Ranger on a guided walk to discover the beauty of Ashtead Common's magestic ancient pollards and find out how we care for old trees

19/09/2024

On Tuesday, 24th September, our cattle will be moved to lower slopes and graze areas on both sites of the Concessionary Ride 1. It means that cattle will be crossing the main ride as we are fully utilising NoFence technology.

Today, volunteers will be putting up some of the electric fenceline to give the visual aid to site visitors of the extent of the grazing area. The fence will be live by the end of the day.

The cattle this year are very calm and relaxed, however we would like to remind people to keep their dogs under close control or on the lead to avoid cattle being disturbed or chased.

If you would like to avoid the cattle, the alternative footpath is Footpath 28 for pedestrians, and Bridleway 33 for cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians.

Thank you for your cooperation.

10/08/2024

The Ranger Team are sad to report that over night our grazing fence line and infrastructure was extensively vandalised. The good news is that the cattle appeared unaffected and thankfully, the NoFence technology meant that they remained safely within the grazing compartments. Unfortunately, one of the step-through's near Concessionary Ride 1 (CR1) was damaged beyond repair and will be reinstated in due course. The rest of the electric fence line is back up and running.

The Team would like to thank our concerned visitors and local residents who contacted our out of hours phone line 01372 279 488, enabling a swift response.

23/07/2024

We are pleased to announce that Ashtead Common has once again retained the Green Flag Award!

The prestigious scheme is an international benchmark, recognising some of the very best-managed parks and green spaces in the UK and abroad.

There are so many people to thank for keeping Ashtead Common a special place, from our rangers to our amazing volunteers, thank you all.