Commons around Churt
Surrey is gifted with a significant proportion of the country’s remaining lowland heathland and mires, a habitat which is recognised as one of Europe’s most endangered habitats and is internationally important for the variety of rare and endangered wildlife that thrive on it.
One such habitat is Churt Common and the Flashes, Lowland Heath.
But Churt Common is only one of the local commons around Churt which have collected the status of Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation, Ramsar sites and National Nature Reserves which are home to a variety of scarce wildlife, including the Nightjar, Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and all six species of native reptile. The rare plants and wildlife on our commons have adapted to the hot, dry and nutrient poor conditions and careful management is needed to ensure that the heath does not get overrun by tree saplings, bracken or invasive garden plants.
As well as the commons and woodland managed by the National Trust, Woodland Trust, Waverley Borough Council and Surrey Wildlife Trust, there are also many local areas of private woodland with permissive walks. A few links are given below but you will find lots more information and details of walks in the surrounding area on the web.
Click the Green Links to view
Churt Common - Devil’s Jumps and the The Flashes
Thursley, Hankley and Frensham Commons