This small wood is squeezed between the A2022 and The Railway cutting. The Epsom Branch line opened in 1865 and runs from Sutton to Epsom Downs. It is about 3 3⁄4 miles long and is double tracked until it reaches Belmont where it becomes single line. The line continues from Belmont through a deep cutting, literally cutting Banstead Downs in half, to Banstead Station and on to Epsom Downs.
Banstead Downs has an illustrious history, in the 17th and 18th century it was a well-known sports venue, especially for horse riding and hunting but perhaps the most famous products of the Downs was mutton and wool. Sheep were still grazed commercially up to the outbreak of the Second World War and during the war much of the Downs were ploughed and cultivated.
By the 1970s large areas had reverted to scrub and secondary woodland. Over the past thirty years, some areas have gradually been cleared and some subsequently grazed with sheep and now it is once again possible to have spectacular views across London. The intention is to continue to open up remaining areas of scrub to provide varying age and density of scrub growth with large clear areas of chalk grassland between, to suit all the local wildlife and to encourage dormant flora to flourish. Not to mention our BUGS.