Banstead Woods is one of three sites of Special Scientific Interest that we maintain under guidelines from Natural England.
- Banstead Woods and Chipstead Downs Local Nature Reserve is located at Holly Lane car park, Holly Lane, Banstead, Surrey CR5 3NR.
Banstead Woods (previously known as the Banstead Park Estate) was a deer park in the medieval period sheltering the royal deer (enclosed in 1439). In 1598 Banstead Park was stated to contain about 160 acres. It belonged to the Spencer family in 1841 when the name changed to Banstead Wood.
Banstead Woods Narnia trail
Visitors can also come face to face with the majestic Aslan the lion, and walk through the wardrobe ‘entrance to Narnia’, complete with hanging coats on our magical Narnia nature trail at Banstead Woods and Chipstead Downs Local Nature Reserve.
Banstead Woods Narnia trail (PDF)
Local Nature Reserve
In March 2017, the Council's Executive agreed to declare the Banstead Woods and Chipstead Downs as a Local Nature Reserve.
Wildlife of Chipstead Downs
Volunteers from the Woodchips Volunteer group have recently begun producing pictorial guides to wildlife that can be found in the Chipstead Downs Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Although the guides concentrate on the Chipstead area, you might see the wildlife that is depicted anywhere that has a chalky soil. In the borough of Reigate and Banstead this is in the area around the North Downs.