Banstead Commons

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Banstead Commons Conservators - manage Banstead Commons under statute. The Commons are: Banstead Heath, Banstead Downs, Burgh Heath and Park Downs.

Banstead Commons consist of four separate areas of common land in the north of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead, namely Banstead Heath, Banstead Downs, Park Downs and Burgh Heath. The Commons are managed by the Banstead Commons Conservators who have a statutory duty to ensure safe and free access of the public to the commons and to protect the commons from damage and trespass. This was origin

ally intended, as much as anything, to protect the Commons from their owners although in this more enlightened age we hope that threats from this direction are unlikely. As well as providing important recreational areas, the open spaces of the commons are important wildlife habitats. Banstead Downs and Park Downs are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), an important aspect of their attraction to a large number of users. Banstead Heath is classified as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance and an Area of Great Landscape Value. In an age of increasing urbanization this imparts certain responsibilities to manage with maintenance of the wildlife value in mind.

30/08/2026

Spotting Wildlife on Banstead Commons

This common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) was spotted on Banstead Downs last week. A rather unexpected encounter, photographer Neil Gray said, 'One minute I was photographing a small hoverfly, and the next it disappeared and I had this lizard in my viewfinder! Only my second lizard ever on Banstead Downs'.

Common lizards can live for around 5 years, and enjoy basking in sunny spots on heathland and woodland. If threatened by a predator, it will shed its still moving tail in order to distract the attacker and make a quick getaway! It can regrow its tail, although it is usually shorter than the original.

27/08/2026

𝐖𝐄’𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 – 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐑 🌿

Are you passionate about the countryside, conservation and protecting wildlife? We’re looking for a new Commons Keeper to join our small, dedicated team at Banstead Commons Conservators.

The role involves the day-to-day management and maintenance of our four wonderful sites – Banstead Downs, Park Downs, Burgh Heath and Banstead Heath.

A qualification or interest in countryside management, conservation, arboriculture or a related discipline would be valuable, and we welcome applications from people with a wide range of experience and backgrounds. We’re looking for someone who is practical, reliable, a good communicator and comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a hands-on role in protecting and preserving Banstead Commons for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive.

📄 Download the Job Description and Application Form via our website: https://bansteadcommons.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/

24/08/2026

𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕡𝕒𝕨 𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕤 🐾

Your dog's a star ⭐️ and you are too when you clean up after them whilst visiting our beautiful commons 🐕️🌿

21/08/2026

A big 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 to Reigate and Banstead Beat (Surrey Police) and the local resident who helped ensure there is now one less dirt bike tearing across Banstead Commons!

Thanks to the prompt action of a resident this week, Surrey Police were able to respond while the incident was taking place, apprehend the rider and seize the vehicle.

Mechanically propelled vehicles are not permitted on registered common land, and there are a number of laws in place to prevent nuisance, damage and dangerous driving on our open spaces.

We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to report illegal activity to the Police at the time it is happening. Agencies are working together to tackle and prevent this activity, but we need your help to make sure enforcement officers can get to the right location at the right time.

Thank you to everyone who continues to report incidents and help us protect Commons. We will not let a minority damage and the destroy the peace and traquility that can be found amoungst our protected landscapes.

Love Reigate and Banstead The Mother Goose Patrol Burgh Heath Residents' Association

11/08/2026

Sunday was the last day of Butterfly Conservation’s 🦋

Here is a selection of photographs taken by the volunteers on the Commons' transects during the Big Butterfly Count season :

Chalkhill blue (Polyommatus coridon)
Marbled white (Melanargia galathea)
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
And last, but certainly not least, the very special and rarely seen silver-spotted skipper (Hesperia comma)!

Thank you to everyone who has taken part this year, and to those who have shared photographs.

The annual UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme transects on Banstead Commons continue to operate weekly, thanks to local volunteers, until the end of September, helping to evaluate national insect trends.

10/08/2026

🔥 **Extreme Fire Risk on Banstead Commons**

The UK is currently experiencing its fifth heatwave of the summer, creating an 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 across our chalk grassland and heath habitats.

Last week, our operations team had to clear the remains of a bonfire on Banstead Downs, along with a significant amount of associated rubbish. In these conditions it poses a very real danger to wildlife, the landscape, and public safety.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟗𝟗𝟗 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 — early reporting is vital and could prevent a small incident becoming a major wildfire.

⚠️ When visiting the Commons:
• Do not light BBQs, campfires or bonfires - this is against our act and byelaws and is illegal.
• Take all litter home – especially glass bottles
• Dispose of ci******es responsibly
It only takes a single spark to start a wildfire, with consequences that can last for years.

🙏 Thank you to local residents who continue to report concerns and help us protect and preserve Banstead Commons.

04/08/2026

There still time to take part in Butterfly Conservation’s 🦋🙌!

Today's butterfly spotted on the Commons is the brown argus (Aricia agestis), part of the family of blue butterflies (Lycaenidae - gossamer-winged), seen here feeding on common ragwort

This picture beautifully captures both its bronzy-brown upperwing, with an orange band of spots, and the underwing, with its series of white spots with black centres.

Brown argus or common blue female?
It can be hard to tell the female common blue apart from the brown argus, as they have very similar colouring and markings.

Here you can clearly see the orange lunules along the outer edge of the upperwing, which are much more distinctive than the common blue female (also there would be no hint of blue sheen in the wings of a brown argus). Another fascinating difference concerns the spots on the underwings. Whilst the common blue only has one spot at the leading edge of the hind wing, the brown argus has another spot very close to it, making a sort of figure of eight shape.

Look closely if you see such a butterfly - is it a brown argus or a female common blue?

Photo:
Neil Gray on Banstead Downs

Find out how to take part 👉 http://bigbutterflycount.org
Butterfly Conservation’s is back 🦋🙌

03/08/2026

There are 6 more days of 2026 🦋(until Sun 9th August)!

Today's butterfly is the gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) - the second most commonly spotted on Banstead Heath by the butterfly transect. It is identified by its orange brown wings and a distinct eyespot on each forewing.

As you can see from these photographs, the butterfly on the left is likely to be a newly emerged adult with pristine wings, while the one on the right appears more ragged, having lived a full life (the photos were taken about 10 days apart). The microscopic scales on the wings rub off easily when brushed against grass, leaves, and endure general wear and tear as time goes by.

Look out for the gatekeeper on your walks on Banstead Commons and let us know if you manage to photograph one!

Photos:
John Buckland on Banstead Downs
Alan and Mary Matthews on Banstead Heath

Download Butterfly Conservation’s free app and ID chart and get out for the Count! 👉 http://bigbutterflycount.org

02/08/2026

Butterfly Conservation’s is on until 9th August. Help take nature’s pulse 👉 http://bigbutterflycount.org. It's very easy - simply download the app and count the butterflies you see for 15 minutes a day!

🦋 Today's photographs are of the painted lady (Vanessa cardui), a well-travelled migrant arriving here ever summer from Europe and Africa! The one on the left is feeding on Hemp-agrimony on Banstead Downs, and the one on the right is on thistle (painted ladies are referred to as 'thistle butterflies' because it is a primary nectar source (and larval host plant) and was spotted on Banstead Heath.

Banstead Commons supports a large variety of butterflies, including some rare species, and hosts four United Kingdom Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) transects. The data collected by the dedicated volunteer surveyors contributes to the national recording programme. In this week's transects of BD and BH 10 painted ladies were spotted, out of a total of 406 and 238 butterflies, recording 12 and 11 species respectively.

Photos: Neil Gray (BD) and Karl D. Tarratt (BH)

If you see any painted ladies out on the commons, let us know!

31/07/2026

🦋Butterfly Conservation’s annual is well underway.

Today's butterflies were spotted on Banstead Heath.

Side by side, you can clearly see the beautiful distinct markings of these two species of the blue family (Lycaenidae)

The first is a female holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) characterised by the vibrant, sky- blue wings with thick black edges. It is the first of the blue butterflies to emerge in early spring, congregating on holly in springtime, and ivy in late summer.

The second is a male chalkhill blue (Polyommatus coridon) - his wings are a paler milky-blue, with a chequered white and black fringe around the edges.

Chalkhill blues fly inches from the ground searching for low-growing plants, and are found in chalk and limestone grasslands; whilst holly blues fly high up, patrolling the tree canopies and taller shrubs in a wider range of habitats such as gardens. parks and woodlands

You can play your part in ensuring their is a future for butterflies and moths.
A reminder that all you need to do to take part in the is:

😎 Find a sunny spot ( Banstead Commons are perfect locations!)
⌚ Spend 15 minutes or longer spotting butterflies & moths
📱 Record how many & what species you see

Get out for the count 👉 http://bigbutterflycount.org

Photos: David Hatcher

Address

PO Box 680
Banstead
KT179PR

Telephone

+447919251512

Website

http://www.bansteadcommons.org.uk/

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