Our Ecological Surveys

Members of the Society carry out surveys on a regular basis at two sites: Bookham Common, Surrey, and Hampstead Heath, North London . Beginners and experts are all welcome.

Bookham Common Survey

Bookham Common is an area mainly of of oak woodland and scrub grassland, with a stream and nine ponds, some 400 acres (160 ha) in size. It is situated near Leatherhead in Surrey and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest owned and managed by the National Trust.

The ecological survey of Bookham Common by members of the LNHS has been running continuously for over fifty years. Bookham common is now one of the best-documented sites in the UK. Data from previous decades can be used as a baseline against which to compare current and future changes in the site's ecology.

Meetings are held on the second Saturday in each month. Members should meet at the Society's hut (OS grid ref. TQ 125 563) at 11.00 or between 13.00 and 14.00. Download a MAP here (32Kb - allow time to download). Alternatively you can type the OS Grid ref into one of the online maps such as Multimap.com or streetmap.co.uk.

There are direct trains from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction to Bookham Station via Leatherhead. (Passengers from Balham, Sutton and some other South London stations can change at Epsom; but always check timetables and routes in advance in case of engineering works). Anyone needing to be met at the station should ring 01372 456143 the day before. Please bring lunch; tea can be made in the Society's hut.
There is car parking on the Common at grid refs. TQ 121 567, TQ 134 569, and TQ 130 557.

Bookham Common offers opportunities for individual or group studies. Large scale maps, aerial photographs, progress reports, identification handbooks and charts are all available in the Society's hut. OS Explorer Map no 146 is recommended. For further information please ring Steve Mellor (01372 456143).

Bookham Common Field Study days: Summer 2008

These popular and successful study days are designed for the beginner or someone with 'just a little knowledge', who would like to increase their knowledge and gain confidence in a particular subject area. They are informative, friendly, and fun. Teaching materials are supplied. If it rains, sessions are held in the Society's hut, which is a modern building with a large table, chairs, tea-making facilities, and plenty of space for the group to work in.

There are three field study days in Summer 2008:

Saturday 12th July for
Dragonflies and other insects

- Saturday 9th August for Grasshoppers and other insects

- Saturday 23rd August for Spiders

They start at 10.30 and finish at 16.00. Please bring lunch, a notebook, a pencil, and reference books. (There are some reference books at the hut).
Meet at Bookham station

There will also be a Lichen study and recording day at Bookham on Saturday 8th March.

Hampstead Heath Survey

Hampstead Heath has been the subject of naturalists' field outings for several centuries and there is a wealth of historical data against which we can compare current results. The Society's ecological survey of this site started in 1997 and complements our long-running survey at Bookham Common.

We usually meet at a study building provided by the Corporation of the City of London. Surveys normally take place on the last Sunday of each month; please check details in the LNHS Programme for confirmation.
Members should meet at the study building promptly by 10.30 am.

To reach the study building travel to Golders Green underground station, walk north under the railway bridge, turn right into Rotherwick Rd NW11, turn right into Corringham Rd, cross Hampstead Way onto the Heath Extension, and walk diagonally to your right towards a small group of buildings among some trees. The OS ref is TQ259876. MAP . You should allow 10-15 minutes to walk from Golders Green station.

Tea and coffee making facilities and toilets are available. Please bring lunch. Meetings normally finish by about 15.30.

If you are new to the Hampstead Heath Survey, please phone Sheila Ayres (020 7794 1735) for more details.

Checklist of Flowering Plants and Ferns
The Hampstead Heath Survey Group has produced a CD containing a Millennial Checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Heath. It records over 650 species found growing on the Heath between 1997 and 2003. Both Latin and vernacular names are given, and dot maps show the location of each species within 100m squares. Lists of all plants found in any 100m square can be produced. The CD is in Excel format, with instructions for use in Word. It is available price £2.50 (inc. p&p) from Sheila Ayres, Flat 1, 22 Daleham Gardens, London NW3 5DA. Cheques payable to London Natural History Society.

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