It's World Ranger Day!

 

Throughout the day we will be putting up posts telling you about the teams that work here on the Commons: the Mounted Keepers, Conservation, Maintenance and the Playing Fields.

 

But to start, we thought we’d give a brief snapshot of the Commons themselves to explain how they came into being and how they are managed.

 

Brief History - The land which now forms the Commons was owned by Lord Spencer and, to thwart his plans to enclose and sell the land much of the “boggy and noxious” land, and build a manor house, a group of local residents led by Henry Peek objected and after some protracted discussions and negotiations, the Commons were purchased and the organisation “Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators” (WPCC) created under an Act of Parliament in 1871, making WPCC the custodians and owners of the 1140 acres that make up the Commons: Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath, Putney Lower Common. The Playing Fields were donated to the Commons following another campaign in the early 1900s by local resident, Richardson Evans.

 

And so here we are today – WPCC is still governed by the same Act of Parliament and its fundamental core remains keeping the Commons “uninclosed and unbuilt on, their natural aspect and state being, as far as may be, preserved”.

 

The Commons have been managed by the Conservators and their staff since then, funded by Levy on those who live within ¾ mile walking distance of the Commons. In 1972, WPCC became a registered charity.

 

 

The diversity of landscape and ecology of the Commons distinguishes them from other open spaces in London. There is a mosaic of woodland, heathland, grassland, lakes, ponds, streams and bogs, and their habitats are home to a diversity of wildlife.

The rarity of some of these habitats – particularly the ancient heathland and acid grassland - means that around 80% of the Commons were designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1953, making the Commons one of the UK’s most important and protected landscapes. In 2005, large parts were also made a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), in recognition of their internationally important habitats and species, such as Stag Beetles.

 

All this vitally important habitat needs to be managed with the other major obligation we have under the 1871 Act – to provide a place for exercise and recreation for you, our visitors. Striking that balance is not always easy but we think we do a reasonably good job!

 

As part of today’s celebrations, we have also launched a fundraiser to purchase some specialist tools to help with our conservation work – some attachments for our digger – which aid the team’s work in woodland thinning, clearing invasive vegetation, tree safety work tasks and for lifting heavy timbers for dead hedging. If you could spare a pound or two, we’d be very grateful if you could please visit our website and make a donation: wpcc.org.uk/WorldRangerDayFundraiser

 

Thank you!