2.1
General Information
Site name:
Norbury Park
Site code:
NP
Site status and designations:
·
forms part of Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
·
forms part of Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive
·
Geological Conservation Review (GCR) (river cliff, fans, fluvial processes)
·
forms part of Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
·
candidate Area of Historic Landscape Value (AHLV)
·
included on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens
Size:
·
526 hectares comprising:
·
284 hectares tenanted farmland
·
197 hectares woodland
·
30 hectares downland
·
15 hectares River Mole, buildings and associated landholding
Manager:
Surrey County Council Environment Department
Countryside & Heritage Division
West House
Merrow Lane
Guildford, Surrey. GU4 7BQ
Telephone: 01483 517595
2.1.1
Location
Grid Ref: TQ 158 538
Norbury Park is situated on the western side of the A24, within the Mole Gap. Leatherhead, Fetcham and Great Bookham lie to the north, Givon's Grove and Mickleham to the east and Westhumble and Dorking to the south. See map showing Surrey County Council ownership in appendix 1.
2.1.2
Land tenure
Please refer to the original tenure documents before taking any decision or action which may have legal implications. These documents are held by Surrey County Council.
Ownership:
Norbury Park is entirely owned by Surrey County Council (except the landholding connected with the property of Norbury Park House).
Type of holding: Freehold
Acquisition details:
1931 Norbury Park acquired.
1970 Chapel Wood acquired.
Legal rights of access:
refer to map in appendix 2 for statutory and permissive rights of way In addition: tenant farmers have rights of access to agricultural fields under the tenancy agreement
Norbury Park House to front drive and back drive
Sawmill and workshop have access for deliveries and the normal course of business
2.1.3
Management infrastructure
In addition there are:
Various buildings
TV and Radio Mast
Sawmill and Workshop
Pressforward Bridge
Weir Bridge (Ironbridge)
2.1.4
Map coverage
Current maps:
1990 Forestry compartment map
OS Explorer 146
Historical maps:
1729
Senex Map of Surrey
1731
Wing T, Estate Map
1760
Bowen Map of Surrey
1762
Rocque J, Survey of Surrey
1768
Rocque J, Environs of London
1793
Lindley & Crosley, Map of Surrey
1821/22
Rainy Norbury Park, Surrey, Sale details
1848
Driver, Plan of a freehold estate called Norbury Park, Sales plan
1869
First edition, OS 25 XXV 7 and 11
1897
Second edition, OS 6 XXV NE
2.1.5
Photographic coverage
Aerial photography:
1948 Aerial photograph, Surrey County Council
1971 Aerial photograph, Surrey County Council
1988 Aerial photograph, Surrey County Council (colour)
Ground photography
1999 Compilation of black and white photographs of all buildings and structures associated with Norbury Park, commissioned as part of the Arts and Landscape project.
A selection of individual photographs and slides, depicting a range of views, species, activities, buildings is kept by the site ranger. The collection has not been sorted or catalogued. It is essential given the need to maintain a photographic record and also to provide material for talks and displays that the collection is added to.
Fixed point photography
The inclusion of fixed point photography (appendix 12) will allow changes in the landscape to be assessed and promote management projects to maintain that landscapes inherent qualities.
2.1.6
Compartments or zones
Refer to compartment map in appendix 7 and list of names and areas in appendix 8.
2.2
Environmental Information
2.2.1
Physical
2.2.1.1 Climate
The climate is typical of central southern England, moist and temperate with mild winters. Prevailing winds are from the south west, and in most years rainfall ranges between 550 millimetres and 650 millimetres. Normal average temperatures are 17oC in July and 5oC in January. Sunshine levels are amongst the highest in Britain, while the number of snow days is comparatively low (Baxter-Brown). However, during the last decade there has been a shift in weather patterns, while rainfall averages have stayed within low annual norms summers have become drier. During this same period winters have been milder and there have been markedly less snow days.
2.2.1.2 Hydrology
River Mole
The influences peculiar to the Mole arise from its strange habit of flowing higher than the general water table of its surrounding valley. Because of this, when extensive and deep floods occur the water drains away rapidly after the flood subsides. Conversely recovery after a drought is a comparatively sudden event. In the Mole Gap the river flows partly across chalk that is already disintegrated and fractured. It is here that apertures known as "swallow holes" have developed.
Most of Norbury Park lies on chalk which is relatively free-draining. Two dew ponds occur on the site (The Scrubs and The Hazels). They are solely reliant on rainfall for their water levels, but act as important reservoirs for wildlife drinking stations.
2.2.1.3 Geology/Topography
Norbury Park is situated on the undulating North Downs. The Mole Gap valley consists of river terraces made up of gravel and alluvial deposits (25 - 50m). The river also includes other notable landforms including river cliffs (Ham bank, Cowslip bank and Norbury Park bank) and "taele fans" where chalk and clay with flints were subjected to periglacial processes during the Pleistocene period and subsequent refashioning by fluvial processes has given the features their terrace-like appearance. These fans of soliflucted material have over the years deflected the course of the river itself. Rising from this is the chalk escarpment which consists of a thin belt of Middle Chalk at its base (50 - 75m). The rest of the escarpment consists of Upper Chalk (75 - 100m). On the western side and to the north clay deposits occur and the chalk is overlaid with deposits of Clay-with-Flints (100 - 150m).
2.2.1.4 Soils
The soils associated with Norbury Park include shallow loamy drift up to 1m thick, overlying clay with flints. The majority of the chalk substrate is overlain with classic "rendzina" soils.
2.2.2
Biological
The following paragraphs provide an overview of the biological interest on the site. For more detailed information please refer to the summary of the NVC survey in appendix 13. If required a full copy of this survey is available for reference.
2.2.2.1 Communities
Woodland
Large areas of Norbury Park are covered with semi-natural woodland. On the lime-rich chalk slopes the dominant trees are beech (Fagus sylvatica), and yew (Taxus baccata), together with ash (Fraxinus excelsior), field maple (Acer campestre) and whitebeam (Sorbus aria). Other secondary woodland species have invaded large areas through natural regeneration, mostly ash and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). In these areas dog's mercury (Mercuralis perennis) dominates the ground flora along with stinking iris (Iris foetidissima) and the rarity green houndstongue (Cynoglossum germanicum). Box (Buxus sempervirens), a rare native tree also occurs along the chalk slopes along with elder (Sambucus nigra), walnut (Juglans regia) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).
The clay with flints plateau gives rise to english oak (Quercus robur) and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) with an understorey of hazel (Corylus avellana), birch (Betula pendula), and holly (Ilex aquifolium). The ground flora consists of yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), wood anenome (Anenome nemorosa), bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scriptus) and primrose (Primula vulgaris). The woodland areas are also important habitats for two species of orchid, fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera) and early purple orchid (Orchis mascula).
Scrub
Former areas of chalk grassland have now developed into chalk scrub, an important habitat in its own right. These areas consist of a variety of shrubs dominated by hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) with dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), privet (Ligustrum vulgare), buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) and wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) also present.
Chalk grassland
On the open chalk grassland areas the species rich sward is dominated by red fescue and sheep's fescue grass (Festuca rubra and F. ovina), upright brome grass (Bromus erectus) and tor grass (Brachypodium pinnatum). Typical herbs include salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), field scabious (Knautia arvense), perforate St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and cowslip (Primula veris). Also found are the following orchids; pyramidal (Anacamptis pyramidalis), common spotted (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and bee (Ophrys apifera).
River Mole
The River Mole is another important habitat with a continuous stretch of scrub and trees along its banks including alder (Alnus glutinosa) and crack willow (Salix fragilis). Marginal and in-stream vegetation include arrowhead (Sagittoria sagittifolia), reed canary grass (Phalasis arundinacea), yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea), broad leaved pond weed (Potamogeton natans) and water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica).
Coniferous plantation
Over the years various coniferous woodland has been planted including Scot's pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway Spruce (Picea abies), European larch (Larix decidua) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata). As part of the management plan some of these areas will be felled and if appropriate re-planting schemes will be with native deciduous species. However some areas and individual trees will be retained as they are important for species diversity and also for over-wintering bird species.
Deadwood
Deadwood is recognised as an important habitat for fungi, invertebrates, fauna, and several bird species. Wherever it is safe to do so standing dead wood is retained and some dead wood is left in situ to create localised habitats. Refer to appendix 4 NVC/habitat map.
Invasive species
Along the river system invasive Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is occurring and monitoring of its spread should take place. Within the woodlands and chalk scrub areas traveller's joy (Clematis vitalba) occurs, although it is an important and pretty plant it may need to be cleared in some areas to ensure healthy tree growth. At the southern end of the estate occurs lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor), this plant roots easily and has overtaken areas of woodland completely and its spread should also be monitored to prevent further colonisation.
2.2.2.2 Flora
Norbury Park as mentioned in the communities section supports a wealth of vascular plants. Species records for each habitat area are kept by the site ranger. No specific management is carried out for any individual plant species. Management takes the form of ensuring habitat diversity in which the plant communities can become established and flourish.
Norbury Park has a rich bryophyte and lichen flora, however at present there are no recorded lists held for these groups. However notable species include Cinclidotus mucronatus, Leskera polycarpa, and Scleropodium cespitans. Mnium stellare grows higher on the Downs along with Isothecium striatulum.
There are some 900 species of fungi on Norbury Park which is a reflection of the diverse and varied habitats which occur within it. 5 important Red Data Book species are Haasiella venustissima, Lyophyllum faurei, Coprinus coniophorus, Amylostereum areolatum and Leucogyrophana sororia.
2.2.2.3 Fauna
Mammals
Some 20 species of mammal have been recorded on Norbury Park. The population of small mammals is healthy and includes common shrew (Sorex araneus), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), field vole (Microtus agrestis) and common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius).
Larger mammals include fox (Vulpes vulpes), badger (Meles meles), weasel (Mustela nivalis) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Bat species frequent the estates woodlands and include pipistrelle (Pipistrellis pipistrellis), noctule (Nyctalus noctula) and common long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus).
Birds
Various bird species have been recorded, including some 40 species that breed from year to year. Notable species include hobby (Falco subbuteo), little owl (Athene noctua), kingfisher (Alcedo althis), mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) and skylark (Alauda arvensis).
Reptiles
Grass snake (Natrix natrix), common lizard (Lacerta vivipara) and slow worm (Anguis fragilis) all occur on the site. Common toad (Bufo bufo) is regularly found under damp woodpiles.
Fish
The River Mole is home to various coarse fish including roach (Rutilis rutilis), chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and pike (Essox lucius).
Invertebrates
The wide ranging quality of habitats within the site supports a rich variety of invertebrate life including many rare and local species of coleoptera, land mollusca the most notable being the roman snail (Helix pomatia), lepidoptera, diptera and odonata.
As with the plants very little specific management for individual animal species is undertaken, the main exceptions being the provision of dormice and bat boxes. During the planning and implementation of any habitat management work the presence and requirements of any sensitive species is always taken into account.
Identified pest species include the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinenus), roe deer and rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus); these need to be controlled to protect against tree and crop damage.
Also mink (Mustela vison) occur along the River Mole and regular evidence of wholesale predation of fish and water fowl species has been witnessed. The situation should be monitored with trapping and shooting encouraged to control numbers.
2.3
Cultural
2.3.1
Archaeology/past land use
Archaeology
100,000 - 3500 BC
No evidence of occupation or land use on Norbury Park, however Mesolithic flint artefacts were recovered to the north of the property near Young Street.
3500BC - 43 AD
A field system recognised by soil marks on aerial photographs near to Bockett's Farm is of the "Celtic" field type and might be of Bronze or Iron Age origins. However the possibility of this being of a later Romano-British period should not be ruled out.
43 - 410 AD
Coins and "Romano-British" pottery found might be indicative of settlements but this can not be confirmed. There is possible evidence near Bockett's Farm of a 1st to 4th century farmstead.
410 - 1066 AD
Various earthworks have been identified during this period.
1066 - 1540 AD
Extensive manorial and pa