Eight Decades of Ecological Study
Bookham Commons has been under continuous ecological survey since 1941, when the London Natural History Society began systematic recording of its wildlife. That study continues today, making Bookham one of the most thoroughly documented natural sites in England. The data stretches across more than 80 years – an almost unparalleled record of how a landscape changes over time.
The numbers are striking. Surveys have recorded 82 families of flowering plants and ferns, 100 species of birds, 22 species of mammals, 1,200 species of flies, 1,000 species of beetles, 264 species of butterflies and moths, and 180 species of spiders. Rare butterflies include the purple emperor, white admiral, and silver-washed fritillary.
The Landscape
The commons cover 450 acres near Leatherhead, a mosaic of oak woodland, scrub, grassland, and nine ponds connected by a stream. The mix of wet and dry habitats, shade and open ground, creates the conditions for exceptional biodiversity within a relatively small area.
Much of the woodland is ancient, with oaks that have grown here for centuries. The grassland areas are maintained by periodic scrub clearance and, increasingly, by conservation grazing. The ponds support dragonflies, amphibians, and water plants. In autumn, the commons are a notable site for fungi, with dozens of species fruiting across the woodland floor.
Access
Bookham Commons are within easy reach of London – Bookham railway station is less than a mile from the entrance. The terrain is generally flat, though paths can be muddy after rain. The commons are a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve, designations that reflect both their ecological value and the quality of the long-term data collected here.
