|
|
|The Esher group of Elmbridge Commons comprise Esher, Arbrook, West End and Fairmile Commons, which are owned and managed by Elmbridge Borough Council.Oxshott Heath is owned by the Council but is managed by Oxshott Heath Conservators, a voluntary body set up in 1904 to protect the Heath.
There are a number of car parks providing easy access to waymarked and signposted footpaths, bridleways and permissive horserides. Statutory footpaths are marked with a yellow arrow; these are open to walkers only. The extensive network of permissive horserides is ideal for horseriders of all abilities; these rides are open to both walkers and riders.
Around 6 000 years ago, during the Neolithic or early Bronze age, man began clearing areas of the 'wildwood' that covered much of Britain for small scale cultivation and grazing. Over a short period of time nutrients and minerals from the exposed cultivated soil leached away and the ground became impoverished and useless for agriculture. In sandy soil areas this gave rise to heathland, pioneered by heathers, grasses and birch scrub.
Flint implements of Neolithic origin have been found on The Ledges and there is evidence of a settlement on Round Hill, Esher Common.
Over the centuries Commoners (also known as 'Heathens') extended their legal 'commoners rights' by grazing their beasts, harvesting firewood and cutting plants, such as heather, gorse, bracken and young birch, for animal bedding and fodder, 'faggots' for the oven, roofing materials, broom-making and a multitude of other bygone uses. These practices ensured that the heaths remained open and a transitional mosaic of different aged heathland habitats were maintained.
However, by the 19th Century heathland was considered unproductive and afforested with fast growing Scot's pine plantations as a timber crop. As the Industrial Age picked up pace, grazing and rural crafts declined and the patchwork of habitats soon became dominated by mixed woodland.
During the war of 1914 - 18, many of the pines were felled for the war effort and the heathland began to regenerate. During the early Twenties a large fire ravaged this fledgling heath and more coniferous trees were planted on the area.
In 1922, the major Commons came into public ownership when the Manors of Esher and Milbourne were purchased by Esher Urban and District Council from the Claremont Estate. The Commons subsequently came into the ownership of Elmbridge Borough Council following its formation in 1974.
With the onset of the Second World War (1939 - 45) more trees were felled and the Commons were used for army training and anti-aircraft gun emplacements. The remains of one gun emplacement can still be found on the top of The Ledges. The Canadian Army had a base at Oxshott Heath and the remains of their baseball pitch is still evident below the South Slope. The Canadians also planted many more Scot's pines as compensation for their presence.
The sand pit on Oxshott originally provided material for local brick makers, however, during the war it was providing the filling for the many sand bags used in Kingston during the Blitz.
In 1955, the Commons were designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by the then Nature Conservancy Council (now English Nature), the statutory body for nature conservation. This designation, reviewed in 1976 and renotified in 1986, offers the site greater legal protection.
Despite the SSSI designation the A3 Esher by-pass dissected Esher Common in 1974. To compensate around 90 acres of 'exchange land', including the ancient woodland of The Ledges at West End and Middle Pond of Esher Common, became part of the Commons.
There are many intriguing historical aspects to the Commons, such as the origins of Esher Commons Black Pond, or the 'Coal and Wine' tax posts of Copsem Lane. Why not join the Countryside Rangers for one of our varied and informative |guided walks around the Commons and learn a little more about the wealth of history, both social and natural.
If you liked the information cantained on this page, you may also enjoy visiting our natural history |Wildlife page.