Weybridge Heath

Scrub clearance area

Weybridge Heath is a part of Weybridge common, in South East England.

The Heath comprises 47 acres (190,200 square metres) of lowland heathland that runs from the deep cutting of the South West Main Line railway eastwards to Cobbetts Hill. To the west of the railway line, much of the original heathland is now occupied by Heathside School and Brooklands College.

During the 1970s and 1980s the heathland fell into a poor state of repair because the surrounding brush was ill-maintained and coppicing, which is essential for the maintenance of small heaths, had ceased. Gradually, the area became more and more overgrown with newly grown brush composed of the saplings of deciduous trees, and became to resemble more of a young wood.

Because the area used to contain many species of ants, rare birds and insectivorous plants, Surrey County Council embarked in 1989 upon a project to renew the heathland and encourage the return of the area to its original habitat type. The project consisted of the removal of many taller trees from a central portion of the site, and the clearing of brush from this area. The council hoped that the area would be returned to something approaching its former glory within a decade.

Evidence of the re-growth of heathland is not great as of 2003, and some local residents are sceptical about the apparent defacement of the area, dubbing the cleared area "the bomb site".

It was on the original heath in this location that British myrmecologist Horace Donisthorpe collected many of the ants from which he produced so many observations and deductions.

## References

[edit]

* The Common Lands of Surrey
* Surrey Heathland Project
* Map sources for Weybridge Heath

51°21′44″N 0°27′16″W﻿ / ﻿51.36217°N 0.45446°W﻿ / 51.36217; -0.45446

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Borough of Elmbridge

Towns, villages and
neighbourhoods|

| Cobham|

* Cobham
* Downside
* Stoke d'Abernon
* Little Heath

|

Esher|

* Claygate
* Esher
* Hinchley Wood
* West End

Surbiton|

* Long Ditton

Thames Ditton|

* Thames Ditton
* Weston Green

Molesey|

Molesey (in traditional parish, East Molesey and West Molesey)

Leatherhead|

Leatherhead, Oxshott

Walton on Thames|

* Ashley Park
* Burwood Park
* Hersham
* Walton-on-Thames

Weybridge|

* Oatlands
* St George's Hill
* Weybridge

Notable parks|

* Cigarette Island Park
* Esher Commons
* Giggs Hill Green
* Hurst Park
* Molesey Heath
* Oxshott Heath and Woods
* Painshill
* Weybridge Heath

Places of worship|

* St George's Church, Esher
* St Mary's Church, Stoke d'Abernon
* Church of St Nicholas, Thames Ditton
* Weybridge United Reformed Church

Education|

* ACS International Schools
* Brooklands College
* Danes Hill School
* Esher Church of England High School
* Esher Sixth Form College
* Feltonfleet School
* Heathside School
* Hinchley Wood School
* Milbourne Lodge School
* Notre Dame School
* Reed's School
* Three Rivers Academy
* St George's College (part)

Transport|

| Railway stations|

* Claygate
* Cobham & Stoke d'Abernon
* Esher
* Hampton Court
* Hersham
* Hinchley Wood
* Oxshott
* Thames Ditton
* Walton-on-Thames
* Weybridge

|

Roads|

* M25
* A3
* A244
* A307
* A3050

Notable other|

* Thames Path
* London Outer Orbital Path
* Wey Navigation

Buildings and structures|

* Bessborough Reservoir
* Brooklands
* Brooklands Museum
* Claremont Estate
* Cobham Park
* Cobham Training Centre
* Esher Place
* Hurst Park Racecourse
* Knight Reservoir
* Island Barn Reservoir
* London Bus Museum
* Molesey Lock
* Molesey Reservoirs
* Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir
* Sandown Park Racecourse
* Sunbury Lock
* Wayneflete Tower

Sport|

* Dittons Skiff and Punting Club
* East Molesey Cricket Club
* Esher RFC
* Metropolitan Police F.C.
* Molesey Boat Club
* Molesey F.C.
* Surbiton Hockey Club
* Thames Ditton Lawn Tennis Club
* Thames Valley Skiff Club
* Walton Casuals F.C.
* Walton & Hersham F.C.
* Walton Rowing Club
* Weybridge Rowing Club

Places listed are articles notable as settlements, arranged by post town
The M25 motorway follows approximately a boundary and is included for its regional importance.
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