Bookham Commons

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

More about this place

Purple emperor butterfly

Deep in the purple empire butterfly walk 

The rare purple emperor butterfly was spotted this spring at Bookham Common at the earliest point in more than 120 years. It follows decades of work by our rangers to protect the specialist habitats it needs. This walking trail takes you through one of the best woods in England for sighting the elusive Purple Emperor butterfly.

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Bookham Commons

Things to see and do

Pond at Bookham Commons Surrey

Find out what you can get up to 

Get closer to nature and enjoy a day in the great outdoors. From little walks to bigger trails, cycling to horse riding paths, there's something for everyone at Bookham Commons.

Purple emperor butterfly

Walk our trail 

The rare purple emperor butterfly was spotted this spring at Bookham Common at the earliest point in more than 120 years. It follows decades of work by our rangers to protect the specialist habitats it needs. This walking trail takes you through one of the best woods in England for sighting the elusive Purple Emperor butterfly.

Visitors in the bird-hide at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire.

50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ at Bookham Commons 

Our list of 50 things will set you on your way to great outdoor adventures. You can complete many of the activities here - build a den in our woods, spy on our birds or find a huge hollow tree to peek inside. Our countryside is your playground...

Family walking dog in woods

Dog walking on the Surrey Hills 

We welcome responsible dog owners to the Surrey Hills countryside and look forward to meeting you. Follow our tips to help you and your hound enjoy your visit with us.

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Bookham Commons

What's on 

Upcoming events

See all events

Boxing day walk

Tue 26 Dec 2017
11:00-13:00
Join us on a heart warming festive walk
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Bookham Commons

Wildlife

Water rail on Bookham Commons Surrey

Wildlife news from Bookham Commons - spring 2017 

Many of our birds are thriving on the Commons – read Ian’s bird news and concerns for our ancient oaks...

Goslings at Bookham Commons Surrey

Enjoy the first signs of spring on the Commons 

Maria, one of the Friends of Bookham Commons, explores the area on a spring day – discover the wonders on the commons at this time of year (external website)…

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  • Pond at Bookham Commons

    Habitats 

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

  • Silver washed fritillary butterfly

    Butterfly spotting 

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

  • Shoveler on the ponds at Bookham Commons Surrey

    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

Nightingale

Life on the edge – project to save the nightingales on Bookham Commons 

Nationally the nightingale population has fallen by 30 percent in the last 20 years and we’ve seen a fall in the nightingales visiting our commons too…

English oak tree

Harvesting oak timber 

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?

Join our team of volunteers
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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