Our field meetings programme for 2025 is set out below. To view and print a pdf copy, click here, and here for photographs of some recent and very enjoyable meetings.
Please note: postcodes are for the general area only, GR and /// are more precise. With /// take care with plurals. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will start at 10.30. Please arrive by 10.15 so that we can make a prompt start. Each meeting will contain a strong educational component to help new or less experienced members. Many will be on uneven or wet ground and so please ensure that you wear appropriate clothes and footwear. Bring a packed lunch as meetings are all-day.
Please note: postcodes are for the general area only, GR and /// are more precise. With /// take care with plurals. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will start at 10.30. Please arrive by 10.15 so that we can make a prompt start. Each meeting will contain a strong educational component to help new or less experienced members. Many will be on uneven or wet ground and so please ensure that you wear appropriate clothes and footwear. Bring a packed lunch as meetings are all-day.
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Sunday 27th April
Ottershaw, Homewood Park for acid grassland recording after a positive change in management. Andi Roy - Biodiversity Officer for Runnymede Borough Council will provide a short introduction to the site and lead the group around the park. Meet in the main Homewood Park car park, off Stonehill Road. Note: SBS members need not pay for parking. See https://www.tbhpartnership.org.uk/greenspace/homewood-park for background information. TQ02006509, KT16 0AP, ///pouch.agrees.deflection
Leader: Andi Roy & Isobel Girvan
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Saturday 3rd May
Buckland, Tapwood Lake for early spring flora in this former sand quarry and surrounding woodland. If you would like to attend this meeting booking is essential. To book your place, please contact Caroline on [email protected] who will provide detailed instructions on where to meet.
TQ2338 5076, RH2 9RG, ///surely.tracks.rooms
Leader: Caroline Bateman
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Sunday 18th May
Farleigh, Greatpark Wood (& if time Littlepark Wood) for 18 hectares of ancient woodland recording. Park and meet at Elm Farm by farm buildings, with a short walk south on paths to the woods.
TQ3628 6049, Postcode CR6 9PE, ///cute.door.boil
Leader: Scott Wood & SWT
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Saturday 24th May
Chertsey, Sandgates to Barrsbrook Farm for general recording. We will be looking out for grassland species including Changing Forget-me-not, Early Forget-me-not and Bee Orchid at Sandgates. Then across the road from Sandgates is the large, abandoned Barrsbrook Farm which has degraded to rank grassland but still holds some interest due to its extensive ditch system and aged hedgerows. Park in residential road leading up towards Sandgates residential area (car park marked on maps is closed) south side of A320 Guildford Road, just east of M25 or Barrsbrook Farm Road. Meet by closed Sandgates car park.
TQ0339 6611, KT16 9LT, ///reap.drops.socket
Leaders: Andi Roy & Bill Stanworth
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Sunday 1st June
Wisley Car Park 5 and fields adjacent for recording in rough previously unrecorded grassland, scrubby woodland and an old orchard. After lunch we will return to record car parks 1, 2 and 3. Park and meet in main Wisley car park off Wisley Lane in car park 3 as far north as you can go, and we will walk up to car park 5.
TQ0657 5871, Postcode, ///lies.notes.this
Leaders: James Alvarez & Jon Wilson
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Saturday 7th June
Bletchingly, Quarry Hangers for chalk grassland recording session at a Surrey Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Please note the terrain can be very steep. Meet in the SWT parking area, please note that space is at a premium and you will likely be locked in for the whole day. Car sharing is to be encouraged, email [email protected]
TQ3154 5360, RH1 4QZ, ///dozed.sand.spoon
Leaders: Ava Marley & Peter Wakeham
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Saturday 14th June
Elstead, Weyburn Meadows for botanical interest. This site is on the edge of River Wey we will look at both wet and dry grassland. Meet in the car park at the end of Water Meadow Close. Additional parking is possible on the verges of Shackleford Road near Somerset Bridge. Wellingtons advised.
SU9205 4387, GU8 6LB, ///lungs.geese.punctate
Leader: George Hounsome
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Saturday 21st June
Lower Puttenham Common for general recording on dry acid heathland and woodland with some steep gradients. Target species include Smooth Cat’s-ear and Sand Spurrey. Meet at the Britty Wood car park south of Littleworth Road.
SU9047 4560, GU10 1JJ, ///broken.giggle.heartburn
Leader: Jon Wilson
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Saturday 28th June
Witley woodland for botanical goodies such as Lesser Skullcap and Bird’s-nest Orchid. Meet opposite the houses on Culmer Lane to the east of the railway bridge. There is some parking here, with additional parking a three minute walk away at junction of Culmer Lane and Sweetwater Lane. Meet opposite the houses. We will spend half the day in the surrounding woodlands and heathland where the terrain is fairly flat. After lunch we will record the wet woodlands where the terrain is more difficult, with wellies essential, as parts of the woodland are very wet.
SU9519 3899, GU8 5SR, ///warm.soggy.doses with additional parking at ///beards.robes.rejoiced
Leader: James Alvarez
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Saturday 5th July
BSBI EVENT Mitcham Common, Merton, Surrey Joint with the London Natural History Society. Meet at the junction of Commonside East and Cedar's Avenue (TQ284686) at 11:00 (11:00-16:00). This urban common was once home to the now Critically Endangered Starfruit which was last seen in 1940; sadly, recent reintroduction attempts appear to have failed. Suitable for beginners and experts.
Leader: Mark Spencer
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Wednesday 9th July
Lingfield Nature Reserve for general recording. John Madden will guide us around this site which supports a mixture of meadows, hedges, woodland, an orchard, as well as a wetland area with a number of ponds and small pools.
Park carefully on Vicarage Road south of the reserve, meet by the entrance next to Glebe Close.
TQ3870 4386, RH7 6AX, ///lime.hang.cattle
Leaders: John Madden & Caroline Bateman
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Thursday 24th July
Polesden Lacey to continue recording areas of chalk grassland within the estate. Park in the main car park and meet in the courtyard just beyond the main gate. Emily from National Trust will take non-members through a private gate.
TQ1346 5246, KT23 4PZ, ///weedy.blur.jazzy
Leader: Jon Wilson
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Saturday 2nd August
Reigate Heath aimed at beginners and new members, although all levels are welcome to join in a relaxed teaching session. We will be taking a gentle walk through dry heathland to learn how to identify some of the common species. Some slopes involved. Park in the two car parks on Flanchford Road (north and south).
TQ2385 5023, RH2 8AB, ///risk.meant.modest
Leaders: Jon Wilson and Isobel Girvan
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Saturday 9th August
Shirley and West Wickham. Joint meeting with Kent Botanical Recording Group to explore the Surrey/Kent botanical border which partly follows one of the tributaries of the River Pool. As well as woodland and streamside habitats, we shall be focusing on the urban flora of the area. Meet at south end of Eresby Drive by the junction with Monks Orchard Road. There is free parking along Monks Orchard Road and in neighbouring streets. If using public transport, West Wickham Station is a short walk away and there are regular bus services from East Croydon and Elmers End. The SL5 Superloop bus service from East Croydon is a frequent and rapid service taking approximately 15 mins. Get off at Bethlem Royal Hospital. Please note that we shall be meeting at 10.45 for an 11.00 start.
TQ3735 6635, BR3 3SL, ///simple.camp.actual
Leaders: Caroline Bateman and Geoffrey Kitchener
Please note that we will be meeting at 10.45 for an 11.00am start
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Saturday 16th August
Tilford, Farnham Heath & Bourne Woods for recording open rides, acid grassland and heathland. Parking in RSPB car park, at the back of Rural Life Museum, Tilford.
SU8581 4330, GU10 2DL, ///boils.reform.scoring
Leaders: Isobel Girvan & Bill Stanworth
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Saturday 23rd August
BSBI EVENT Old Deer Park, Richmond upon Thames Joint with the London Natural History Society. Meet on the north side of the bridge crossing Twickenham Road (TQ17797531) at 11.00 (11:00-16:00). Joint LNHS and BSBI recording session. This site on the Thames Floodplain is currently being restored by the Rewilding Arcadia project and is showing promising signs of recovery. It contains naturally flooding areas as well as recently dug ephemeral ponds. Suitable for beginners and experts.
Leader: Henry Miller
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Wednesday 3rd September
Streatham Common for woodland and urban botany. LNHS will also be invited to join us. This visit will explore Streatham Common woodland, then through Norwood Grove to Biggin Wood, part of the Great North Wood complex. We will return via quiet roads in search of pavement weeds. Meet at Streatham Common South car park (free of charge). Regular buses serve the area with Streatham and Streatham Common train stations being a short walk away.
TQ3090 7095, SW16 3BZ, ///sharp.gift.zebra
Leader: Jane Lowe
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Saturday 25th October
Social, Box Hill Village Hall. An opportunity to meet up with fellow members and enjoy the raffle, quiz and a slideshow of botanical photographs. The hall is on Boxhill Road 1 mile east of the Box Hill Viewpoint. TQ1952 5149, KT20 7JS, ///many.spin.minus
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Please note: postcodes are for the general area only, GR and /// are more precise. With /// take care with plurals. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will start at 10.30. Please arrive by 10.15 so that we can make a prompt start. Each meeting will contain a strong educational component to help new or less experienced members. Bring packed lunch as all-day meetings. Many will be on uneven or wet ground so please ensure that you wear appropriate clothes and footwear.
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