Wildlife

The area is good for all kinds of wildlife, not only birds. Banstead Woods is particularly rich in diversity with hotspots such as Fames Rough warranting special attention.

Butterflies ('star' species in italics) 


Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Large Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Clouded Yellow, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Green Hairstreak, Brown Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Holly Blue, Small Blue, Adonis Blue (1 record), Purple Emperor, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, White AdmiralDark Green Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Ringlet

Purple Emperor, by Ruffett Wood, July 15th 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Purple Emperor, by Ruffett Wood, July 15th 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Small Tortoiseshell, Sheep Brow, August 3rd 2014 (Ian P Ward)

Clouded Yellow, Valley Meadows, September 27th 2014 (Ian P Ward)

Brown Hairstreak, Hither Field, September 18th 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Brown Hairstreak, Hither Field, August 24th 2014 (Ian P Ward)

Brown Hairstreak, Holly Lane Meadow, September 2nd 2013 (Ian P Ward)
.
Brown Hairstreak, Pages Acre horse paddock, August 29th 2013 (David Campbell)
.
Brown Hairstreak, Pages Acre horse paddock, August 29th 2013 (David Campbell)
.
Silver-washed Fritillary, Fames Rough, July 14th 2011 (David Campbell)
.
Silver-washed Fritillaries, Banstead Woods, August 2nd (Ian Magness)

Silver-washed Fritillary, Fames Rough, August 2nd (Ian P Ward)

Silver-washed Fritillary, Woodpecker Meadow, July 22nd 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Dark Green Fritillary, Banstead Woods, July 13rd 2013 (Ian P Ward)
.
Dark Green Fritillary, Banstead Woods, July 13rd 2013 (Ian P Ward)

Painted Lady, Poultry Field, August 29th 2015 (Ian P Ward)



Speckled Wood, Banstead Woods, August 22nd 2015 (Ian P Ward)







Holly Blue, Banstead Woods, May 24th 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Holly Blue, Banstead Woods, August 2nd 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Chalkhill Blue, Valley Meadows, July 22nd 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
♀ Chalkhill Blue, Holly Lane Meadow, August 11th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Chalkhill Blues, Valley Meadows, July 2012 (Paul Goodman)

Peacock, The Scrub, November 29th 2014 (Duncan Jennings)

Peacock, Pipit Meadow, August 11th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Small Heath, Fames Rough, June 2013 (Ian Magness)
.
Meadow Brown, Holly Lane Meadow, August 11th 2012 (Ian P Ward)

Meadow Brown, Banstead Woods, July 13th 2014 (Ian P Ward)

Purple Hairstreak, Woodpecker Meadow, August 8th 2011 (David Campbell)

Green Hairstreak, May 4th 2014 (Ian Ward)

Green Hairstreak (Paul Goodman)

Green Hairstreak, The Scrub, May 14th 2014 (Duncan Jennings)

Gatekeeper, Canons Farm, July 28th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Gatekeeper, July 22nd 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Ringlet, Holly Lane Meadow, July 22nd 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Large Skipper, Canons Farm, July 28th (Ian P Ward)

Dingy Skipper, Fames Rough, May 10th 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Dingy Skipper, Fames Rough, July 26th 2011 (David Campbell)
.
Grizzled Skipper, Fames Rough, May 10th 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Grizzled Skipper, Valley Meadows, June 30th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Grizzled Skipper, Valley Meadows, June 9th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Grizzled Skipper (Paul Goodman)
.
Marbled White, Valley Meadows, June 30th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Marbled White, Holly Lane Meadow, August 5th (Ian P Ward)
.
Dark Green Fritillary, Holly Lane Meadow, July 11th 2011 (Ian P Ward)
.
Red Admiral, Railway Field, June 9th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Small Copper, The Scrub, September 6th 2014 (Ian P Ward)

Small Copper, Fames Rough, July 26th 2011 (David Campbell)
.
Brown Argus, Fames Rough, August 2nd 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Brown Argus, Canons Farm, May 21st 2011 (David Campbell)

Brimstone, Holly Lane Meadow, August 11th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Comma, Holly Lane Meadow, August 11th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
.
Comma, Canons Farm, April 6th 2010 (David Campbell)

Odonata
Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Emperor, Common Darter, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser

Black-tailed Skimmer, Banstead Woods, June 6th 2015 (Ian W Ward)

Southern Hawker egg-laying, Piddly Pond, September 15th 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Southern Hawker egg-laying, Piddly Pond, July 25th 2014 (Ian P Ward)
Common Darter, Reads Rest Cottages, September 10th 2015 (Ian P Ward)

Common Darter, Stoney Nob, September 18th (Ian P Ward)

Common Darter, Tawny Wood, September 10th 2015 (Ian P Ward)



Common Darter, Piddly Pond, August 19th 2013 (Paul Goodman)
Southern Hawker, Banstead Woods, June 22nd 2014 (Ian Ward)

Broad-bodied Chaser, Piddly Pond, June 8th 2014 (Ian Ward)

Common Blue Damselfly, Sheep Brow, July 3rd 2016 (Ian Ward)

Moths

further research needs to be done on this group

Veneer, Valley Meadows, July 22nd 2012 (Ian P Ward)
Burnet Companion, Valley Meadows, June 9th 2012 (Ian P Ward)
Mother Shipton, Valley Meadows, June 9th 2012 (Ian P Ward)

Cinnabar caterpillar, Legal & General, August 4th (Ian P Ward)
Cinnabar caterpillars, Legal & General, July 26th 2011 (Ian Magness)

Other insects

Roesell's Bush-cricket is a specialty. Glow-worms are also present in some areas.

Meadow Grasshopper, Holly Lane Meadow, July 22nd 2012 (Ian P Ward)
 

Mammals (incomplete)

Badger, Red Fox, Roe Deer, Wood Mouse, Pipistrelle Bat, Stoat, Grey Squirrel, European Mole etc

Reptiles

Slow-worm

Slow-worm, Hither Field, September 2nd (Ian Magness)

Plants

Specialities include Ground Pine, Cut-leaved Germander, Nodding Bur-marigold, Fly Orchid and White Helleborine
Ground Pine, Fames Rough, June 2012 (Paul Goodman)
Autumn Gentian, Sheep Brow, August 7th 2011 (Paul Goodman)
Fly Orchid, Fames Rough, June 2013 (Ian Magness)

Fly Orchid, Fames Rough, May 2014 (Ian Ward)


Fly Orchid, Fames Rough, June 2012 (Paul Goodman)
Bee Orchid, Hither Field, June 9th 2012 (Ian P Ward)

Bee Orchid, Sheep Brow, June 2012 (Paul Goodman)
Pyramidal Orchid, Chipstead Bottom, June 28th 2011 (Paul Goodman)
Hairy Violet, Fames Rough, April 2011 (David Campbell)
White Helleborine, Fames Rough, May 13th 2011 (Paul Goodman)
Twayblade (Paul Goodman)
Giant Bellflower, Fames Rough, July 26th 2011 (Ian Magness)
Common Spotted Orchid (Paul Goodman)

Twayblade, Fames Rough, June 2013 (Ian Magness)
White Helleborine, Fames Rough, June 2013 (Ian Magness)
Musk Mallow, Fames Rough, July 2011 (Ian Magness)
Milkwort, Fames Rough, June 2013 (Ian Magness)

Rock Rose, Fames Rough, June 2013 (Ian Magness)

Patch plant list by Paul Goodman


English name CF BW
Trees  Field Maple x x

Beech x x

Elm
x

Silver Birch x x

Alder
x

Ash x x

Pendunculate Oak x x

Sessile Oak x x

Horse Chestnut x x

Sweet Chestnut x x

Hornbeam x x

Sycamore x

Field Maple x x

Horsetail x

Yew
x

Hazel x x
Buttercups Lesser Celandine x

Meadow buttercup x x

Creeping buttercup x x

Goldilocks Buttercup
x

Celery Leaved Buttercup
x

Corn Poppy x x

Wood Anemony x

Travellers Joy x x

Common Nettle x x

Stingless Nettle x?
Chickweeds Common Mouse Ear
x

Common Chickweed x

Greater Stitchwort x x

Lesser Stitchwort x x

Corn Spurrey x

Red Campion x x

White Campion x x

Bladder Campion x x

Redshank x

Knotweed x

Japanese Knotweed x
Docks Sheep Sorrel x

Curled Dock x x

Broad Leaved Dock x

Common Sorrel x

Pale St Johns Wort x x

Perforate St Johns Wort x x

Musk Mallow
x

Common Mallow x

Rock Rose
x
Violets Dog Violet x x

Sweet Violet x x

Hairy violet
x

Wild Pansy x x
Wild cabbage Shepherds Purse x

Garlic Mustard x x

Cuckoo Flower x

Hogweed x x

Giant Hogweed x x

Charlock x

Hairy Bittercress
x

Field Pepperwort
x

Wild Radish
x

Wild Mignonette
x

Primrose x x

Cowslip x x

Yellow Pimpernel
x

Scarlet Pimpernel x x

Dropwort
x
Rose Silver Leaf Cinqfoil (silverweed) x x

Creeping Cinquefoil
x

Raspberry x x

Blackberry x x

Wild Strawberry
x

Dog Rose x

Field Rose
x

Wood Avens x x

Agrimony x x

Salad Burnet
x

Parsley Piert
x

Blackthorn x x

Bird Cherry
x

Rowan x x

Crab Apple x x

Hawthorn x x
Vetchs Purple Vetch x

Common vetch x x

Hairy tare x x

Slender Tare
x

White Clover x x

Tufted Vetch x x

Birdsfoot Trefoil x x

Red Clover x x

Yellow Vetchling x

Rest Harrow x

Black Medick x x

Hop Trefoil x x

Grass Vetchling x x

Horseshoe Vetch
x

Bush Vetch x

Common Restharrow x
Willowherbs Broad Leaf Willow Herb x

Rose Bay Willow Herb x

Enchanters Nightshade x x

Holly x x

Dogwood
x

Spindle
x

Box
x

Dog Mercury x x

Sun Spurge x x

Wood Spurge
x

Buckthorn
x

Purging Flax
x

Common Milkwort
x

Wood Sorrel x
Cranesbills Herb Robert x x

Round Leaved Cranesbill x x

Long stalked Cranesbill
x

Cut leaved Cranesbill x x

Meadow Cranesbill
x

Hedgerow Cranesbill x

Indian Balsam
x

Small Balsam
x

Ivy x x

Sanicle
x
Wild carrot Cow Parsley x x

Wild Carrot x

Fool's Parsly
x

Upright Hedge Parsley x x

Wild Parsnip
x

Common Centaury
x

Autumn Gentian
x

Yellow Wort
x

Lesser Periwinkle x

Bittersweet x

Field (Pink) Convolvulus x x

Hedge Bindweed x x

Bogbean
x

Green Alkanet x x

Vipers Bugloss
x

Common Comfrey (+Russian, Blue) x

Field Forget me not
x

Wood Forget me not
x
Labiate White Dead Nettle x x

Red Dead Nettle x x

Yellow Archangel x x

Ground Ivy x x

Hedge Woundwort x x

Selfheal x x

Betony x x

Margoram x x

Wild Clary x

Ground Pine
x

Cut leaved Germander
x

Wild Basil x

Wild Sage
x

Vervain
x

Ribwort Plantain x x

Greater Plantain x x

Hoary Plantain
x

Common Figwort x x

Great Mullein x x

Dark Mullein
x

Foxglove x x

Yellow Toadflax x x

Lesser Toadflax
x

Round leaved Fluellen
x
Veronicas Ground Speedwell x

Thyme leaved Speedwell x x

Wall Speedwell
x

Common Field Speedwell x x

Germander Speedwell x x

Greater Yellow Rattle
x

Eyebright (nemorosa)
x

Red Bartsia x x

Common Broomrape
x

Giant Bellflower
x

Field Madder x

Common Cleavers
x

Crosswort
x

Hedge Bedstraw x x

Wayfaring Tree x

Guelder Rose x

Honeysuckle x x

Devil's Bit Scabious
x

Field Scabious x x

Teasel
x
Thistles Cotton Thistle x x

Creeping Thistle x x

Carline Thistle
x

Dwarf Thistle
x

Prickly Sow Thistle x x

Smooth Sow Thistle x x

Perennial Sow Thistle x x

Spear thistle x

Black Knapweed x x

Greater Knapweed x x

Giant Burdock x

Chicory x
Dandelions Dandelion x x

Goatsbeard x x

Nipplewort x x

Groundsel x

Orange Hawkweed
x

Mouse ear Hawkweed
x

Beaked Hawkweed x x

Rough Hawkbit x x

Lesser Hawkbit
x

Autumn Hawkbit
x

Cat's Ear
x

Daisy x x

Ox-eye Daisy x x

Feverfew x

Yarrow x x

Ragwort x x

Pineapple Mayweed x

Scentless Mayweed x x

Scented Mayweed x

Coltsfoot x

Mugwort x

Nodding Burr Marigold
x

Lords and Ladies x x

Bluebell x x

Ransome x x

Yellow Iris
x

Black Bryony x x
Orchids White Helleborine
x

Common Spotted Orchid
x

Pyramidal Orchid
x

Twayblade Orchid
x

Fly orchid
x

Bee Orchid
x





Valerian





Grasses and ferns Note, only a few examples are listed here. More records welcome

Branched Bur-Reed
x

Wall Barley


Black Bent


False Oat Grass


Yorkshire Fog


Quaking Grass
x

Male Fern


Broad Buckler Fern


Bracken






Garden escapes


Snowdrop
x

Daffodil x x

Crocus x

Summer snowflake x

Rhododendron
x

Buddlea x x

Columbine
x

Snowberry x

Soft Ladies Mantle
x

Apple Mint x

White Poplar
x



















English name CF BW
Trees Field Maple x x
Beech x x
English Elm x
Wych Elm x
Silver Birch x x
Downy Birch x
Alder x
Ash x x
Pendunculate Oak x x
Sessile Oak x x
Horse Chestnut x x
Sweet Chestnut x x
Hornbeam x x
Sycamore x
Lime (small leaved) x
Norway Maple x
Horsetail x
Yew x
Hazel x x
Buttercups Marsh Marigold x
Lesser Celandine x
Greater Cellandine x
Meadow buttercup x x
Creeping buttercup x x
Goldilocks Buttercup x
Celery Leaved Buttercup x
Corn Poppy x x
Opium Poppy x
Common Fumitory x
Wood Anemone x
Travellers Joy x x
Common Nettle x x
Common Orache x x
Stingless Nettle x?
Chickweeds Common Mouse Ear x
Common Chickweed x
Greater Stitchwort x x
Lesser Stitchwort x x
Corn Spurrey x
Red Campion x x
White Campion x x
Bladder Campion x x
Redshank x
Knotweed x
Japanese Knotweed x
Black Bind-weed x
Docks Sheep Sorrel x
Curled Dock x x
Broad Leaved Dock x
Wood Dock x
Common Sorrel x
Pale St Johns Wort x x
Perforate St Johns Wort x x
Hairy St Johns Wort x
Musk Mallow x
Common Mallow x
Rock Rose x
Violets Dog Violet x x
Sweet Violet x x
Hairy violet x
Wild Pansy x x
White Bryony x
Grey Willow (Sallow) x x
Wild cabbage Shepherds Purse x
Garlic Mustard x x
Cuckoo Flower x
Hogweed x x
Giant Hogweed x x
Charlock x
Hairy Bittercress x
Wavy Bittercress x
Field Pepperwort x
Wild Radish x
Wild Mignonette x
Primrose x x
Cowslip x x
Yellow Birds Nest x
Yellow Pimpernel x
Scarlet Pimpernel x x
Dropwort x
Rose Silver Leaf Cinqfoil (silverweed) x x
Creeping Cinquefoil x
Raspberry x x
Blackberry x x
Wild Strawberry x
Barren Strawberry x
Round Leaved Dog Rose x
Dog Rose x x
Field Rose x
Wood Avens x x
Agrimony x x
Salad Burnet x
Parsley Piert x
Blackthorn x x
Bird Cherry x
Rowan x x
Crab Apple x x
Whitebeam x
Hawthorn x x
Vetchs Purple Vetch x
Common vetch x x
Kidney Vetch x
Hairy tare x x
Slender Tare (needs confirmation) x
White Clover x x
Tufted Vetch x x
Birdsfoot Trefoil x x
Red Clover x x
Yellow Vetchling x
Rest Harrow x
Black Medick x x
Hop Trefoil x x
Grass Vetchling x x
Horseshoe Vetch x
Bush Vetch x
Common Restharrow x
Willowherbs Broad Leaf Willow Herb x
Rose Bay Willow Herb x
Enchanters Nightshade x x
Holly x x
Dogwood x
Spindle x
Box x
Dog Mercury x x
Sun Spurge x x
Wood Spurge x
Buckthorn x
Purging Flax x
Common Milkwort x
Wood Sorrel x
Cranesbills Herb Robert x x
Round Leaved Cranesbill x x
Long stalked Cranesbill x
Cut leaved Cranesbill x x
Meadow Cranesbill x
Hedgerow Cranesbill x
Doves foot Cranesbill x
Indian Balsam x
Small Balsam x
Ivy x x
Sanicle x
Wild carrot Cow Parsley x x
Wild Carrot x
Fool's Parsly x
Burnet Saxifrage x
Upright Hedge Parsley x x
Wild Parsnip x
Pignut x
Others Common Centaury x
Autumn Gentian x
Yellow Wort x
Lesser Periwinkle x
Bittersweet x
Field (Pink) Convolvulus x x
Hedge Bindweed x x
Bogbean x
Dodder x
Green Alkanet x x
Vipers Bugloss x
Common Comfrey (+Russian, Blue) x
Field Forget me not x
Wood Forget me not x
Labiate White Dead Nettle x x
Red Dead Nettle x x
Yellow Archangel x x
Ground Ivy x x
Hedge Woundwort x x
Marsh Woundwort x
Common Hemp Nettle x
Selfheal x x
Betony x x
Margoram x x
Wild Clary x
Ground Pine x
Cut leaved Germander x
Wild Basil x
Wild Sage x
Vervain x
Common Water Starwort x
Ribwort Plantain x x
Greater Plantain x x
Hoary Plantain x
Common Figwort x x
Wild Privet x
Great Mullein x x
Dark Mullein x
White Mullein x
Foxglove x x
Yellow Toadflax x x
Lesser Toadflax x
Round leaved Fluellen x
Sharp leaved Fluellen x
Veronicas Ground Speedwell x
Thyme leaved Speedwell x x
Wall Speedwell x
Common Field Speedwell x x
Germander Speedwell x x
Brooklime x
Greater Yellow Rattle x
Lesser Yellow Rattle x
Eyebright (nemorosa) x
Red Bartsia x x
Common Broomrape x
Giant Bellflower x
Round Headed Rampion x
Field Madder x
Common Cleavers x
Crosswort x
Hedge Bedstraw x x
Wayfaring Tree x
Guelder Rose x
Honeysuckle x x
Devil's Bit Scabious x
Field Scabious x x
Small Scabious x
Teasel x
Thistles Cotton Thistle x x
Creeping Thistle x x
Welted Thistle x
Marsh Thistle x
Carline Thistle x
Dwarf Thistle x
Prickly Sow Thistle x x
Smooth Sow Thistle x x
Perennial Sow Thistle x x
Spear thistle x
Black Knapweed x x
Greater Knapweed x x
Giant Burdock x
Chicory x
Dandelions Dandelion x x
Goatsbeard x x
Nipplewort x x
Groundsel x
Bristley Ox Tongue x
Orange Hawkweed x
Mouse ear Hawkweed x
Beaked Hawkweed x x
Rough Hawkbit x x
Lesser Hawkbit x
Autumn Hawkbit x
Rough Hawksbeard x
Cat's Ear x
Ploughman's Spikenard x
Goldenrod x
Canadian Goldenrod (introduced) x x
Daisy x x
Ox-eye Daisy x x
Feverfew x
Yarrow x x
Ragwort x x
Pineapple Mayweed x
Scentless Mayweed x x
Scented Mayweed x
Coltsfoot x
Mugwort x
Nodding Burr Marigold x
Lords and Ladies x x
Lesser Duckweed x x
Bluebell x x
Ransome x x
Yellow Iris x
Black Bryony x x
Orchids White Helleborine x (Tawny Wood) x
Common Spotted Orchid x
Pyramidal Orchid x (L&G) x
Twayblade Orchid x
Fly orchid x
Bee Orchid x
Violet Helleborine x
Valerian x
Toothwort x
Grasses and ferns Branched Bur-Reed x
Wall Barley x
Black Bent x x
Wood False Oat Grass x x
Yorkshire Fog x
Quaking Grass x
Hairy Brome x
False / Wood Brome x
Timothy x
Wild oat x
Black grass x
Couch grass x
Yellow oat grass x
Perrenial rye grass x
Cocksfoot x x
Barren brome x
Slender Rush x
Soft Rush x
Male Fern x
Broad Buckler Fern x
Bracken x x
Garden escapes Snowdrop x
Daffodil x x
Crocus x
Summer snowflake x
Rhododendron x
Buddlea x x
Columbine x
Snowberry x
Soft Ladies Mantle x
Apple Mint x
White Poplar x
Tulip x
Honesty x
Walnut x
Plum x
Damson x
Dames Violet x
Cherry Laurel x
Allium sp (resembles Wild Leak, near Orchard) x
Fingercups (Tellima Grandiflora) x























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Wildlife around the perimeter

Keep an eye out for these species which have been seen very close to the recording area and could stray...

Silver-spotted Skipper, Park Down, August 11th 2012 (Ian P Ward) - Holly Lane Meadow is a likely location for this species in the recording area