Working closely with Banstead Commons Conservators & Natural England

BANSTEAD DOWNS IS DESIGNATED A SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST (SSSI) AND IS ONE OF THE RARE AND DISAPPEARING CHALK DOWNLAND HABITATS IN ENGLAND.

At Banstead Downs Golf Club, we work together with Banstead Commons Conservators and Natural England to reverse the decline of this habitat and the species that live upon it. We aim to increase the biodiversity value of the site by enhancing its natural habitat features.

From a golfing perspective, this makes our downland course a healthy mosaic of managed and natural environments. It presents a wonderful golfing challenge and is also aesthetically pleasing and rich with wildlife at all times of the year.

Our chalk grassland management focuses on preserving and restoring areas of species rich grassland around the periphery of the course. Banstead Downs contains many typical chalk grassland wildflowers such as the Common Spotted Orchid, Musk Thistle, Stemless Mistle and Autumn Gentian. There are also rarities such as Broadleaved Cudweed and Early Gentian. Sensitive management allows us to promote the growth of these 'indicator species'. This improves the ecological value of the course and supports healthy populations of invertebrates and other threatened species, such as Brown Hairstreak, Small Blue and Chalk Hill Blue butterflies. Connectivity is also a priority for scrub and woodland management on the course. 

You can find further information on the ecology and management priorities for Banstead Downs SSSI, the work of Banstead Commons Conservators and the four sites that make up Banstead Commons by visiting their website at www.bansteadcommons.org.uk