
Castle Hill Local Nature Reserve | Kingston |
The borough boundary is on an ancient lane called Chessington Park Lane, which is on the eastern boundary of Castle Hill. Earthworks here are believed to be the remains of a medieval hunting lodge that was at the northern end of a medieval deer park owned by Merton College, Oxford, so-called after William Merton, Lord of the Manor, who had enabled poor scholars to go to Oxford University. The deer park had extended to Park Farm in the south, and Bonesgate Stream to the west. Previously oak woodland, it was cleared of trees by the C19th for fields and meadows. A small area of woodland near the earthwork was planted in the C19th and a path runs through the site to Horton Country Park. It is managed as a local nature reserve.
The information shown above was correct at the time of the last update 01/04/2012
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The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.
Castle Hill Local Nature Reserve is managed by Lower Mole Countryside Management Project with assistance from Lower Mole Countryside Trust, a charity set up to support the provision of a high quality countryside management service for the benefit of landscape, wildlife and people. Recent improvements have been made to the Castle Hill site, its access and the earthworks, funded by the Trust. Coppicing, installation of an information board and path surfacing are planned through an agreement with English Heritage. In June 2011 three welcome signs were installed at the three main access points to the site.
Sue Swales, Ian Yarham, Bob Britton, 'Nature Conservation in Kingston upon Thames', Ecology Handbook 18 (London Ecology Unit) 1992