Autumn countryside management works at Oxshott Heath

Oxshott Heath is a valued local green space, providing opportunities for residents to enjoy nature, exercise and spend time outdoors, while also supporting important wildlife habitats. You may have noticed work taking place as part of a programme to improve visitor access and enhance the heath’s woodland habitat, helping to ensure it can be enjoyed by both people and wildlife for generations to come. 

Improving access to Oxshott Heath 

To make visiting Oxshott Heath easier, we are combining the existing two smaller car parks into one larger, improved facility. 

The improvements will provide a better-quality car park, helping visitors access and enjoy the heath more comfortably. 
 
To help people continue visiting during the works, a section of the car park has reopened with safety barriers in place. 

Woodland management to support wildlife 

Alongside the car park improvements, management works will begin in week commencing 26 October as part of our 25-year woodland management plan.  

These works will help create a healthier, more diverse woodland that supports wildlife, is better able to cope with climate change and remains accessible for residents to enjoy. The work will include: 

• thinning parts of the tree canopy to allow more sunlight to reach the woodland floor 
• removing non-native and invasive species 
• reducing dense holly growth 
• creating a number of small woodland clearings to encourage natural regeneration 

Why this work is needed 

Active woodland management helps keep our woodlands healthy, diverse and resilient. 

Over time, unmanaged woodland can become dark and overcrowded, limiting the growth of plants, young trees and wildlife. Allowing more light to reach the ground encourages a wider variety of species to thrive and helps establish the next generation of trees. 

Managing invasive species and creating small open areas provides valuable habitats for plants, insects, birds and other wildlife. 

What to expect when visiting 

Signs are in place to explain the works and advise visitors to avoid affected areas while work is underway. 

Contractors will use machinery and create a temporary loading area from the week commencing 5 October to remove materials from the site. Woodland management works are expected to begin during the week commencing 26 October. 

Most of the heath will remain open throughout the project, although some areas will be temporarily fenced off to keep visitors safe. All works are expected to be completed by December. 

Please follow any safety signs and instructions when visiting. Thank you for your patience and support while these improvements are carried out. 

While the car park improvements will make it easier for people to access and enjoy Oxshott Heath, the woodland management works will help ensure the heath remains a healthy, diverse and resilient environment for wildlife. Together, the projects support our long-term commitment to caring for this important local green space and ensuring it can be enjoyed for generations to come. 

For further information about the works, visit our Questions and Answers or please contact the Countryside Team.