Help shape the plan to look after Earlswood and Redhill Commons

Feedback will inform a management plan to look after Earlswood and Redhill Commons for visitors and wildlife, and to help manage flooding.

The survey, which closes on 23 December 2022, asks how people use the commons – including how often they visit, their favourite activities and what they think of the facilities. There is an opportunity to raise any concerns, and the survey also seeks to understand attitudes to protecting biodiversity.

Earlswood and Redhill Commons are owned and managed by the Council, overseen by the Earlswood Common Management Steering Group. Together they form one of the largest areas of continuous public open space in the borough, bordering Woodhatch, Mead Vale, Redhill, Earlswood and South Earlswood.

The area is a haven for wildlife, including Roe deer, rabbits, bats and birds, and contains a variety of habitats including two large lakes, scattered woodland and semi-improved grassland, which includes the nationally rare Chamomile plant.

Cllr Nathalie Bramhall, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, says: “We take the management and protection of our precious countryside very seriously. We know how important these spaces are for local people, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, so please tell us what you think by completing our survey. We want visitors to continue to enjoy the commons for generations to come.”

Earlswood Common is a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and also a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). It recently retained its gold standard South and South East in Bloom award.

The survey can be completed online at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RBBCcommons/