Ancient commons, mentioned in the Domesday Book, with grassland plains, mighty oak woods and serene ponds
Bookham Commons' varied landscapes, from ancient oak woods to grassland plains and tranquil ponds, support an abundance of wildlife, which can be heard and seen throughout the seasons.
Listen out for tuneful nightingales and warblers in the spring, and in summer look for insects hovering over the ponds. If you're lucky, you may also spot the beautiful, but elusive, purple emperor butterfly.
Bookham Commons is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and since 1941 the London Natural History Society has been carrying out a survey of the wildlife, making it one of the best recorded and thoroughly studied areas in the country.
