Banstead Wildlife Field

Banstead Wildlife Field A community group set up to help maintain the Banstead Wildlife Field in Basing Road with the advice from experts in several areas.

Everyone is welcome to come along to our first AGM. We look forward to welcoming you.
15/05/2026

Everyone is welcome to come along to our first AGM. We look forward to welcoming you.

A new notice board has been erected at Banstead Wildlife Field, it will be a place to get information about what you can...
15/05/2026

A new notice board has been erected at Banstead Wildlife Field, it will be a place to get information about what you can see there. Thanks to Banstead Men in Sheds for making it for us.

Spotted this week in the wildlife field were these galls. Lime nail gall mites are microscopic animals (less than 0.2 mm...
12/05/2026

Spotted this week in the wildlife field were these galls. Lime nail gall mites are microscopic animals (less than 0.2 mm long) that feed on the foliage of lime trees (Tilia sp.). The mites feed by sucking sap. They secrete chemicals into the plant tissue that causes the leaves to produce these galls. The mites then suck sap from plant cells lining the gall structure. Like most gall mites there is no harm done to the hosts overall heath and vigour and these animals are part of the biodiversity that healthy trees support.

This week in the wildlife field we have seen the ermine catapillar. At this time of year you will often see ghostly silk...
12/05/2026

This week in the wildlife field we have seen the ermine catapillar. At this time of year you will often see ghostly silken webbing covering sections of hedgerows and, on occasions, individual trees. Although it can look rather sinister, don't be alarmed. The most likely culprit is a harmless caterpillar.

These striking and obvious webs hide hundreds and sometimes tens of thousands of caterpillars of a group of moths called the Small Ermine moths. Often seen on blackthorn and hawthorn, the others on spindle and bird-cherry. Occasionally whole trees can be covered by their webs, the leaves stripped bare giving the tree an eerie appearance. Sometimes these webs are so extensive that they can cover nearby objects such as benches, bicycles and gravestones.

The cowslips in the Wildlife Field are looking wonderful, and the dragonfly sculpture has had a much needed makeover. Tw...
15/04/2026

The cowslips in the Wildlife Field are looking wonderful, and the dragonfly sculpture has had a much needed makeover. Two of many things to enjoy in the Wildlife Field.

Second compost bin built at the Wildlife Field today, made from recycled material. First bin is now in use and garden cl...
04/04/2026

Second compost bin built at the Wildlife Field today, made from recycled material. First bin is now in use and garden clippings are being composted. What great work.

Photos showing the visit of the Squirrels (the non bulb eating type) under James Crouch’s leadership to build our compos...
25/03/2026

Photos showing the visit of the Squirrels (the non bulb eating type) under James Crouch’s leadership to build our compost bins - don’t they look great? A big thank you to our volunteers too. One more bin to build, so a bit of prep needed at our next meeting.

Our best ever turn out, excellent work achieved in the woodland in preparation for our community planting, and in the ra...
16/03/2026

Our best ever turn out, excellent work achieved in the woodland in preparation for our community planting, and in the raised beds which are now looking good. Well done all. If you would like to join our team of volunteers come along for community planting on the 17th and 18th March at 9.30am

Fantastic morning today: rootgrubbing at the pond, sapling trimming and woodland thinning. We had visitors Brian, (Winkw...
18/02/2026

Fantastic morning today: rootgrubbing at the pond, sapling trimming and woodland thinning. We had visitors Brian, (Winkworth project) and Matt RBBC Tree Officer, who said the woodland team were doing an excellent job.
We are bulb planting on Tuesday 17th if you would like to help please message.

When you visit Banstead Wildlife Field you may wonder what these are for... there are lots of reasons why they are there...
15/02/2026

When you visit Banstead Wildlife Field you may wonder what these are for... there are lots of reasons why they are there!
1. We want to recycle some of the saplings we cut down when thinning the copse of poplar trees
2. ⁠We use the teepees to store the mown grass as temporary habitat
3. ⁠To identify planting spots for proposed wild orchard trees next year (for which we have received a donation now)
4. ⁠To allow us to plant last years crocuses around them to avoid future disturbance when doing further planting
5. ⁠The orrnamental value and interest, creating interest in the field and its maintenance routine
6. ⁠It contributes to our recycling intention (not to mention the fun the team had making them). We hope to find other ways of recycling too

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Basing Road
Banstead
SM72AH

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