Castle Hill is a small but long-established woodland, developed over the site of a former medieval hunting lodge (a scheduled Ancient Monument). The Bonesgate Stream runs along the western boundary of the wood in a largely natural course, before emerging in Bonesgate Open Space immediately to the north. Both elements of the site are Local Nature Reserves, and are adjacent to the extensive Horton Country Park in Surrey.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Castle Hill and Bonesgate Open Space
Borough: Kingston upon Thames
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 7.19 ha
Description
Wildlife
Castle Hill is mainly oak-hazel woodland, with a diverse ground flora including bluebell, wood anemone, wood sedge, wood millet, pignut, hairy St John's-wort and barren strawberry. There are also some scrubbier, more open areas.Bonesgate Open Space has some riverside woodland of old coppiced hazel and supports the locally uncommon goldilocks buttercup. Alongside this is mown parkland beneath a power line.The breeding bird community includes jay, great spotted woodpecker, song thrush, lesser whitethroat, willow warbler and the declining marsh tit.Facilities
Waymarked walking route.
Wood sorrel © Meg Game
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