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West Wickham Common TQ 400652 - 9 ha - Tel 020 8660 8533
Hayes Common TQ 406652 - 79 ha
Keston Common TQ 417640 - 21 ha
Tel 01689 862815

Vegetation on each of the three commons is dominated by secondary oak-birch woodland, that has grown up since the last war but the visitor will also find significant areas of heathland and acid grassland, favouring a wide variety of characteristic invertebrates, birds and reptiles.

West Wickham Common features wonderful veteran oak pollards, patches of relict heathland and acid grassland. Hayes Common incorporates both long established and recently restored areas of heathland and acid grassland. It boasts an assortment of uncommon plants including bell heather, lousewort and heath milkwort.

Keston Common includes one of London’s few surviving valley mires. Cross-leaved heath, common cotton-grass, bog asphodel, sedges and bog-mosses are amongst the species favoured by the wet, acidic conditions here. Up the slopes are open areas of acid grassland and heather, bordered by areas of pine.

All three commons show evidence of Bronze Age activity and the earthworks at Keston are designated as an ancient monument.

Management of the surviving heather areas today is supported by a rolling programme of restoration – with vital help from local community groups - to ensure the long-term viability of the heathland and the plant and animal species which depend upon it.

A network of informal paths provide good walking conditions through much of the year and a single hour or a whole day can be very pleasantly spent here. The commons have been hugely popular with day trippers since Edwardian times.

Getting there

West Wickham, Hayes and Keston Commons

West Wickham Common