Chislehurst Commons
The Commons cover about 180 acres of woods, grassland, heathland and ponds. Being mainly sand and gravel, the soil is poor and so most of it has never been farmed. The Commons extend from Prickend Pond, near the High Street, in the north, to beyond the Leesons Hill roundabout in the south. To the east lies Scadbury Park Nature reserve and to the west and south there is an extensive area of National Trust land, including Petts Wood.
Altogether there are over 900 acres of open space for local people to enjoy. Although criss-crossed by busy roads, the Commons make an invaluable contribution to the semi-rural ambience of this area.
Under an Act of Parliament of 1888 Act the Commons are managed in perpetuity, by a Board of Trustees. One member of the Board is appointed by the Lord of the Manor and the rest are local people appointed by Bromley Council. There are 16 Trustees in all. They give their services freely. The Board’s office and machinery depot is the Old Fire Station near the corner of Hawkwood Lane and Manor Park Road.
The Trustees have responsibility for conserving the woods, open spaces, ponds, wetlands and heather areas and encouraging biodiversity. They have to prevent encroachments and must deal with fly-tipping and litter. They must ensure that all parts of the Commons are accessible at all times. Horse-riding on the Commons has been allowed since 1929, bridle paths being indicated by the occasional blue and white flashes on the trees bordering them.
The Board employs a Head Keeper and an assistant. They carry out the day to day work on the Commons and supervise the work of around 20 Friends’ Volunteers.
Bromley Council provides about a third of the Trustees’ annual budget and there are grants from the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and over £40,000 is given each year by local residents, the Friends of the Commons.
For further information regarding our work please visit our website at: www.chislehurstcommons.uk
Alternatively please complete the form below with your name, email address and comment and we will be in touch in due course.
Altogether there are over 900 acres of open space for local people to enjoy. Although criss-crossed by busy roads, the Commons make an invaluable contribution to the semi-rural ambience of this area.
Under an Act of Parliament of 1888 Act the Commons are managed in perpetuity, by a Board of Trustees. One member of the Board is appointed by the Lord of the Manor and the rest are local people appointed by Bromley Council. There are 16 Trustees in all. They give their services freely. The Board’s office and machinery depot is the Old Fire Station near the corner of Hawkwood Lane and Manor Park Road.
The Trustees have responsibility for conserving the woods, open spaces, ponds, wetlands and heather areas and encouraging biodiversity. They have to prevent encroachments and must deal with fly-tipping and litter. They must ensure that all parts of the Commons are accessible at all times. Horse-riding on the Commons has been allowed since 1929, bridle paths being indicated by the occasional blue and white flashes on the trees bordering them.
The Board employs a Head Keeper and an assistant. They carry out the day to day work on the Commons and supervise the work of around 20 Friends’ Volunteers.
Bromley Council provides about a third of the Trustees’ annual budget and there are grants from the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and over £40,000 is given each year by local residents, the Friends of the Commons.
For further information regarding our work please visit our website at: www.chislehurstcommons.uk
Alternatively please complete the form below with your name, email address and comment and we will be in touch in due course.