Wisley & Ockham Commons and Chatley Heath

A 297-hectare reserve featuring a mosaic of heathland, woodland, and bog habitats, supporting a wide range of wildlife.

Stretching across hundreds of hectares near Ripley and Cobham, Wisley & Ockham Commons and Chatley Heath form one of Surrey’s most expansive and varied lowland heathland landscapes. Managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust, this connected reserve system offers everything from open heather plains and woodland paths to ponds, bogs, and the iconic semaphore tower of Chatley Heath. With habitats ranging from sandy ridges to birch scrub and damp hollows, this is a prime destination for wildlife photographers seeking variety, rare species, and space to explore.

A Heathland Mosaic of Light and Life

This reserve rewards repeat visits. The wide-open heath is perfect for golden-hour landscapes, while ponds and bogs are home to dragonflies, frogs, and water birds. Dartford warblers and stonechats perch among gorse, while hobbies hunt dragonflies overhead. In the forested sections, treecreepers and nuthatches move through the canopy, and in summer, silver-studded blues and graylings offer rich macro opportunities. The Chatley Semaphore Tower provides a unique historic backdrop, excellent for wide-angle storytelling shots.

Best Times to Visit:

  • Spring: Warbler activity ramps up; heather starts to recover; frogspawn in ponds

  • Summer: Peak butterfly and dragonfly season; golden heathland sunsets

  • Autumn: Changing foliage, mist over ponds, fungi in woodland trails

  • Winter: Frosty heaths, stark silhouettes, and increased raptor activity

Plan Your Visit

  • Several car parks available (Boldermere, Pond car park, and Ockham Common); well-marked footpaths

  • Bring both macro and telephoto lenses to capture insects and birds

  • Early mornings are excellent for mist and mood; golden hour transforms the heath

  • Pack water—long walks between habitats; terrain ranges from flat paths to sandy climbs

Did you know?

Lowland heath is rarer than rainforest in global terms—and Surrey holds over 20% of England’s remaining heathland. Without active conservation grazing and fire prevention, this fragile mosaic would disappear. Dartford warblers, silver-studded blues, and rare reptiles depend on it.