Sep 08 2023

Yateley Common

Photo of a brass rubbing plaque mounted on top of a post. The image shows a Nightjar.
Click Image to Enlarge

If you follow the nature trail that starts at Wyndham’s Pool, you’ll find eight plaques, each with the image of a plant, bird or animal that might be found on heathlands like Yateley Common. If you take crayons, the instructions and the free downloadable rubbing sheet with you, you can even complete your own heathland picture. Such a lovely way for families to discover the wildlife and history of the common, and a little bit about how it’s managed.

One of the birds you’ll find on the plaques is the Dartford Warbler, very much at home here at Yateley. Another is the Nightjar, shown on the plaque above, a bird that arrives from Africa in May, to make Yateley its second home for the summer. You can help keep them, and other wildlife, safe by following a few simple requests. Please keep to the main paths, always pick up after your dogs and keep them close to you on the paths. Because Nightjars nest right on the ground, and Dartford Warblers in low-growing vegetation,  they’re easily scared off and that’s why we say #PawsOnPathsPlease at this time of year. It’s not necessarily that dogs chase or even harm the birds, but if these sensitive birds are repeatedly scared off, they’ll eventually abandon their nests. If you keep to the woodland areas, you’ll be helping them by giving them space. The Nightjars will stay until mid September, maybe a little longer if this heat continues, so we’re still not quite in the clear.

Either side of Yateley Common, you’ll find other heathlands, including parts of the MOD’s training estate and Forestry England plantations, collectively creating a huge swathe of protected heathland through this area. Please do help us spread the word…by keeping to the main paths and helping to prevent fires, we’ll protect the birds and other wildlife, and help to keep this important part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area safe for future generations.

Good to know…

Find a free car park just off the A30, London Road, Yateley GU17 0AN. What3Words: jigsaw.spike.novels. At Wyndham’s Pool, off Cricket Hill Lane, Yateley GU46 6BB. What3Words: power.eased.ranked. And at the Heathland Cemetery, accessed via Stevens Hill, Yateley GU46 6AZ. What3Words: lawfully.interlude.tutored.

Dogs on paths please and under close control.

If you’re a regular dog walker and would like to try somewhere new, our top recommendations are Shepherd Meadows on the A321, Marshall Road (1.7 miles), Horseshoe Lake on Mill Lane (2.7 miles) or Ambarrow Court on the A321, Wokingham Road (2.9 miles). Or if you live to the south of the Common, Bramshot Farm Country Park (4.4 miles) is also a great option. Our ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ pages have lots more options too.

The heathland at Yateley Common is managed by the Hampshire Countryside Service and they provide more information and contact details on their website. If you’re interested in practical volunteering, they’d be pleased to hear from you. There’s more information about volunteering here.

Yateley Common gallery…

Photo of an attractive lake covered in water lilies and other aquatic vegetation. Surrounded by trees.
Many walks at Yateley Common, including the nature trail, start at beautiful Wyndham’s Pool.
Photo of a brass rubbing plaque mounted on top of a post. The image shows an Adder.
Follow the nature trail to discover more about the creatures that live here and about how the heathland is managed.
Photo of a wide gravely track, with tall gorse bushes either side.
Or explore further by following one of the many tracks that criss-cross this attractive place.
Photo of a brown, speckled butterfly on pink heather. It has a distinct eye-spot on its upper wing, and a hint or orange is just visible.
One of the butterflies you’ll almost certainly see at this time of year is the Grayling. Often seen along sandy tracks. Photo: Des Sussex.
Photo of a bird perched on a branch. It has a reddish-brown back, and a blueish-grey head and long tail. A distinctive red eye. and its crest is slightly raised.
Another heathland treasure is the Dartford Warbler. One of the many birds that nests at Yateley Common. Photo: Mark Leitch.
Photo showing the purple Common Heather in flower, the colour goes off into the diatance.
The heather-clad heathland at Yateley Common is the perfect home for Dartford Warblers that like to nest in low-growing vegetation, and other birds such as the Nightjar and Woodlark that nest right on the ground.

Photo of one of our signs tied to a tree. It asks everyone to keep to main paths and keep dogs out of vegetation.
We display signs during the nesting period and ask everyone to keep to main paths from March to September.
Photo of a large welcoming you to Yateley Common. The bottom part of the sign says "Ground Nesting Birds - Please keep dogs on paths and under close control - 1st March - 15th September".
You’ll also see this information displayed at the main entrances – see bottom panel.
Photo of a wide track. There's a thick border of prickly gorse along both sides.
Many of the paths have a thick gorse hedge either side, to help protect the birds from disturbance.
Photo of a small path with heather in flower either side.
If you take any of the smaller paths that go through the heather, please do keep the dog on the lead and keep to the path.
Photo of an attractive woodland path.
Alternatively, there are many lovely wooded areas where you can walk without disturbing the birds.
Photo of purple Common Heather and and bright Yellow Dwarf Gorse in flower.
This photograph was taken in August when the heather was in full flower. As you walk around, you’ll come across lots of clearings like this where the heather is thriving.

Photo looking out over a large area of open land. There are arching branches of gorse in the foreground, blackened by fire.
In other areas you might notice the scars of past wildfires. A fire like this can have devastating consequences and that’s why we ask everyone to #BeWildfireAware by leaving the BBQ at home, disposing of cigarettes responsibly and taking litter home.
Pretty photo of a small path winding downhill, past trees and clumps of purple heather.
Thank you for reading and please enjoy your visits to this special place.

 

[Click on the images for the full size versions, and to see the captions for more information]

I took most of these photographs on a recent visit and our wardens also visit Yateley Common regularly. We’re there to spread the word about this special place and help visitors enjoy their visits without disturbing the wildlife. Please follow us on social media, we’d love to share more of the magic of heathland with you.

Thank you everyone 🙏

Sarah
Thames Basin Heaths Partnership

Pictorial messages for "Keep to main paths", "Prevent fires" and "Explore alternatives"

#PawsOnPathsPlease

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