This was a joint outing with the Byfleet Heritage Society: the following is a slightly abridged version of the report that appeared in their newsletter, with our thanks to the author. See also Dick Alder's account of a follow-up talk by James Adler.
Despite some threatening-looking clouds, the weather did stay fine for our walk on Wisley Common, led by James Adler of the Surrey Wildlife Trust. Wisley Common, Ockham Common and Chatley Heath together cover 323 hectares, with Wisley covering 150 hectares. Although the area is quite wooded now, old maps show that there was previously a distinct lack of trees, and people remembered being able to see all the way over to Wisley village, and the area often being flooded. Heathland has declined dramatically over the last 200 years, with 85% of Surrey's heathland now lost. Heathland was formerly regarded as wasteland and not recognised as a special habitat until 1992.
A lot of work is needed to maintain the special heathland habitat. If left alone, the open heath would soon be colonised by birch, pine and bracken. A programme of tree removal has been taking place, which looks a bit brutal at first, but once the trees are cleared it allows the heather to recolonise. This happens quite quickly as there is heather seed already in the ground, which remains viable for 100 years. The heather has long been a feature of the heath - the pollen appears in soil samples dating back 3000 years. Bracken is extremely tough and persistent and the Trust battles with it constantly, £20,000 being spent on it last year alone.
Recently you may have noticed the cows wandering over the common: this is part of a project to reintroduce the old breeds that would have grazed the heath in the past, and which play a vital part in maintaining the heathland habitat. There are 18 Belted Galloways and Irish Moiled cattle on Wisley Common at the moment, which James looks after from the newly refurbished Pond Farm. The grazing is already having an effect - in the areas cleared by the cows, orchids and rare grasses are appearing.
The heath is a very specialised habitat and boasts many rare species. The sand lizard, which had disappeared from the area, was reintroduced onto Ockham Common in 1992 and the population has since increased. The fact that the heath is cut off from other similar habitats and the animals that live there, results in some interesting species variations. James said he has seen adders that are black, bright blue and fluorescent green!
James let us have a peek into the barn at Pond Farm, which is being renovated as an office for the Trust but has retained the old beams. The farm was named after a large lake which was drained around 1750 to provide land for crops. A bank which formed the edge of the lake still exists.
Other curiosities on our walk included a view of the carnivorous sundew plant, which can be made into a potent wine and a cure for warts, a bomb crater now filled with water, and an ancient bowl barrow. James said elsewhere on the common was a bell barrow, one of only 250 in the country and usually indicating the burial of an important person. There was also a large mountain ash which the Trust would like to clear, but as it is considered extremely unlucky to cut this species the foresters would not touch it! Added to that, it stands on top of an ancient burial barrow and has mistletoe growing on it, so no-one feels brave enough to touch a single leaf.
To finish, James told us of the secret life of the cow pat! In fields where the cows have been treated with worming medicines pats can last 3 months. On Wisley Common they last about a week. As soon as they are 'laid', flies and beetles appear and lay their eggs, and the grubs will use the cow pat as food. Also birds will come and remove grass and fibre for their nests, and in a short time the cow pat has been recycled back into the heathland.
Wisley Common is a beautiful place to walk and right on our own doorsteps, so go and explore.
Tessa Westlake