Ashtead Common
Ashtead Common is a beautiful ancient woodland containing a huge variety of wildlife, trees and plants. Keep an eye out for Roe Deer, Woodpeckers and the Purple Emperor butterfly. It also has two scheduled Ancient Monuments - a Roman villa and a triangular earthwork.
Central to the diversity of the common are over 2,300 old oak pollards. The living trees provide nesting places for many species of birds and habitats for insects. The dead and decaying trees are equally important, supporting rare and endangered invertebrates as well as providing roosting places for bats. Over 1000 species of beetle have been recorded here, 150 of which are internationally rare.
Walking around it may appear that the common looks after itself, however an enormous amount of work goes into keeping the environment as wildlife and people friendly as possible. For example each of the oak pollards has been individually recorded and assessed and has a 30 year maintenance plan. This ensures that the trees have any disease treated, do not become top heavy and split their trunks etc..
Further information on the common is available on the link below:
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Ashtead_Common/
The richness of its flora and fauna mean that Ashtead Common is protected as a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Because of this there are strict rules on where caches can be placed. For instance veteran trees provide all sorts of great hidey holes, but the bats are partial to those too so the trees cannot be used.
This cache is placed with the kind permission of Natural England and under licence from the City of London who own the common.
This is the first of several caches which we intend to place on Ashtead Common and it belongs to our younger daughter. The cache name has no great significance other than that she loves moles and insisted on having it!
Parking is available at Ashtead railway station or free on Woodfield Road/Woodfield Lane.
The common has many appealing criss-crossing paths, some of which are hard surfaced while others can become very muddy in winter.
You are looking for a small ‘Lock and Lock’ plastic container suitable for swaps and small Travel Bugs.
Congratulations to Muttitt – FTF!