Bookham Commons

Important notice -

All our houses, gardens, parks, toilets, cafes, shops and car parks are now closed to further restrict the spread of coronavirus. Bookham Commons car parks are closed, please do not travel here.

Ancient commons, mentioned in the Domesday Book, with grassland plains, mighty oak woods and serene ponds

More about this place

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Coronavirus update 

From end of Tuesday 24 March, we closed all our car parks to further restrict the spread of coronavirus. This followed the decision to close our parks and gardens in addition to our houses, shops and cafes. We urge people to stay local and observe social distancing. Please do not travel.

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Bookham Commons

What's on 

Upcoming events

Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place.

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Bookham Commons

Wildlife

Pond at Bookham Commons
Silver washed fritillary butterfly
A skylark at Bookham Commons

Habitats 

Learn how we manage the Bookham habitats to attract wildlife to our designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Butterfly spotting 

Visit us on a warm, sunny day and you’ll see many of our wonderful butterflies fluttering over the commons.

Bird spotting 

Visit the commons at any time of the year and you'll see and hear many of our favourite woodland birds and spot a variety of waterfowl on the ponds.

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Bookham Commons

History

Central plain Bookham Commons

Discover our past 

Uncover the past at Bookham Commons and learn more about its journey from wild woodland to Victorian day trips and the Second World War.

The commons are a small remnant of a wildwood

Early beginnings  

Learn about the different ways Bookham Commons has been used throughout the ages; man has been here since the Stone Age, when large, wild animals were still roaming the land, so there's plenty to tell.

two children playing at the Devil's Punch Bowl

What are commons? 

Commons today are valued for their protection of wildlife and ecology, where people are welcome visitors but the natural world takes priority. However, these sites survive in an unspoiled state thanks to a fascinating and often contentious human history of community identity, local memory and the rights of common people.

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Bookham Commons

Our work

Banks Common provides a rare grassland habitat

Bringing nature back from the brink 

Following a careful programme of land management over the past 12 months, Bank’s Common, part of Bookham Commons, is showing signs of renewed vitality.

English oak tree

Harvesting oak timber on Bookham Commons 

Learn how we harvest the woodlands for oak once the trees have been thinned in the autumn and winter.

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Bookham Commons

Get involved

National Trust volunteers having a tea break

Volunteer with us 

We welcome new members to our volunteering team and none of the work we do would be possible without their help. Would you like to lend a helping hand?

Couple on bench between trees with lively dog

Friends of Bookham Commons 

The Friends of Bookham Commons work tirelessly to raise funds and help maintain the commons. Over the years, they've provided restful wooden benches, a boardwalk over a marsh and a bird hide on Upper Eastern Pond for you all to enjoy.

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© National Trust Registered Charity 205846 Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2NA

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