Note the secret code in this cache and find others to earn yourself a geocoin as part of The South Downs GeoTour. Record the codes in the #SDGeoTour passport, downloadable from our website or at SDGT Visitors Welcome.
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A traditional cache in a good place to start an adventure, day or night.
LOCAL INFORMATION
Iping Common, along with its neighbours, Stedham and Trotton Commons, is a fabulous example of sandy heathland habitat. Heathlands are of considerable international biodiversity importance but have suffered dramatic decline in recent decades – in fact over 95% of lowland heaths have been lost globally!
Heathland is referred to as a ‘plagio-climax’ habitat which means that left to nature it would evolve into scrubby woodland. In the past humans have used heathland to graze their livestock and collect materials such as firewood and Bracken. These activities have helped the heathland to survive. Nowadays, in order to maintain the site for its wildlife value, active site management is necessary. This includes removal of bracken, gorse and other undergrowth along with the restriction of the number and position of trees on the heathland.
Iping Common is home to some very rare and special birds including the nightjar, Dartford warbler and stonechat as well as numerous insects and beetles and the amazing insectivorous sundew plant. Many of these birds are ground-nesting which means that particular care must be taken during the nesting season (March through to June). You can help by:
• keeping to tracks and paths as much as possible, particularly in areas of dense heather
• keeping your dog on a lead
• spreading the word by telling others how they can help too!
People have interacted with this landscape for centuries and these commons have two groups of significant Bronze Age barrows. During World War II they were also used for tank maneuvers by Canadian soldiers.
DISCOVERING MORE
There is a good circular walk linking Trotton Common, Iping Common, Stedham Common or all three in one big loop. This walk can also be extended to the north of the A272 to loosely follow the course of the River Rother from Trotton to Stedham and on to Woolbeding.
Follow the long-distance path, The Serpent Trail. It runs for 64 miles from Petersfield to Haslemere, following the sandy soiled heathlands in this part of the National Park and goes past this cache on the track immediately to the south of its location
Visit at night, Iping Common is one of our Dark Sky Discovery Sites. It plays host to a variety of nocturnal animals and is a great place to admire the stars, it's dark enough that you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye on a clear night.
TRAVELLING SUSTAINABLY
The number 92 bus from Midhurst to Petersfield stops at Iping Crossroads
You can cycle to this geocache, access to the area is via the newly opened Midhurst to Stedham cycle route.
PERMISSION
Permission kindly given by Sussex Wildlife Trust