Anstiebury

A common shrub on Leith Hill, part of the Greensand Ridge.

Drinking trough and fountain near the summit of Leith Hill. Originally installed in Roehampton Vale, Wandsworth, by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association, it was moved here in July 2018 with the support of the charity (now known as The Drinking Fountain Association).

Tower on the summit of Leith Hill, built in 1774-5 with the stair turret added in 1864. Grade II listed - see Link.

The summit of Leith Hill, with the drinking trough installed in 2018 on the left (see TQ1343 : Drinking trough and Leith Hill Tower in the background (see TQ1343 : Leith Hill Tower).

Byway between Coldharbour and Wotton.

Byway between Coldharbour and Wotton.

Byway between Coldharbour and Wotton.

Byway between Coldharbour and Wotton. Although it is a "BOAT" (Byway open to all traffic), the sign refers to a temporary closure to four wheel drive vehicles, to avoid damage to recent repairs, and a consultation is currently under way to make the closure permanent.

This tower was built in 1765 by Richard Hull of Leith Hill Place nearby, TQ1342 refers. At 965ft (294m) above sea level, it is the highest point in south-east England, and from the top of the tower at 1029ft (313m) asl, views can be obtained of thirteen counties on a clear day. It was given with five acres of surrounding land to the National Trust in 1923, and one can climb the steps to its top on Fridays-Sundays and Bank Holidays between the beginning of April and the end of September, Link refers.

This photo shows the view from the foot of Leith Hill Tower looking south towards the South Downs in the distance.

This drinking trough was originally located in Roehampton Vale in London SW15 until it was moved to Leith Hill more recently. It has the following wording inscribed on its side: METROPOLITAN DRINKING FOUNTAIN & CATTLE TROUGH ASSOCIATION

This plaque is fixed on the side of the drinking trough near Leith Hill Tower. It has the following wording: This trough, which previously stood in Roehampton Vale, Wandsworth, was refurbished with the aid of funds raised by Ruby Cole, for the enjoyment of all using Leith Hill. The Drinking Fountain Association July 2018

This information board is located near Leith Hill Tower and shows a map of the Leith Hill Estate bounded by Broadmoor and Friday Street at the north, Coldharbour at the east and Forest Green at the west. It has the following wording: Upper right Finding your way around the Leith Hill Estate Welcome to Leith Hill, one of the highest points in south east England. Here you can walk for miles, see wonderful wildlife and enjoy stunning views. Lower right Take a leaflet to follow one of our self guided trails: a) Woodland Trail (Orange dashes on map) Graded as 'medium' the 2½ miles long route does have some steep parts and will take up to 2 hours. b) Etherley Farm Loop (purple) An additional 1½ miles to the woodland trail. Graded as 'easy' and will take an additional hour, but can be muddy underfoot when wet. c) Heathland Trail (green) Graded as 'easy' the 1 3/4 miles loop will take about one hour and has a steep climb back up to the tower. d) Frank's Walk (pink) Graded as 'medium', the shortest walk of just 3/4 mile will take under an hour, but does have some steep parts. Lower left Leith Hill Place Access (blue) Visitor access route to Leith Hill Place during opening times.

This photo shows the information board near Leith Hill Tower with a map of the area and the following wording: Exploring the area Wotton, Abinger and Leith Hill You are near Leith Hill in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Three major land managers, Surrey Wildlife Trust, the National Trust and the Forestry Commission have produced this map to add to your enjoyment of the area. Left column a) Greensand Way The Greensand Way follows the Greensand ridge for 172km (107mls) from Haslemere in Surrey to Hamstreet near Ashford in Kent. It passes through a varied landscape of heathland, woodland, orchards, hop gardens and farm land. The route is well signposted and is suitable for families, ramblers and seasoned walkers. b) Leith Hill Tower Built in 1765, the Tower marks the highest point in south-east England. On top of the battlements, standing at over 1,000 feet above sea level, you may glimpse the English Channel to the south, and turn to view landmarks of London, including St Paul's Cathedral. The information room explains geology, social and natural history, and management. The Tower is open throughout the year, with light refreshments available from the servery (check noticeboard for opening times). c) Friday Street A picturesque hamlet with a quiet mill pond. The former pub is named after Stephan Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of King John and Magna Carta. d) Rhododendron Wood Originally laid out in the 1840's by Caroline Wedgwood, eldest sister of Charles Darwin, this formal woodland today boasts fine examples of rhododendrons, azaleas and specimen trees. The picnic area adjacent to the car park provides a peaceful setting. Right column Key to the characters mentioned on the map including the following Car Parks in red: 1) Friday Street 2) Broadmoor 3) Starveall Corner 4) Rhododendron Wood 5) Windy Gap 6) Landslip Image of Surrey with Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty marked in dark green. Users Guide Throughout the area you will find an extensive network of footpaths, bridleways and byways. Some are public rights of way. Others are provided by the landowner on a permissive basis. Horses and cyclists must keep to the routes marked as bridleways or byways. The arrows with GW shows the Greensand Way. Fenced areas are private. Images of waymarkers from left to right: a) Public Footpath (Black with yellow arrow) b) Public Bridleway (White with blue arrow) c) Public Byway (White with red arrow) d) Public Footpath-Greensand Way (Black with yellow arrow and GW) Much of the area is managed woodland. For your safety there may be temporary restrictions due to forestry work. This area is very vulnerable to fire. Be very careful with cigarettes and other potential hazards. Please follow the Countryside Code: Respect-Protect-Enjoy. The Ordnance Survey map for this area is Explorer No.146 (Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate) Public access to the Wotton Estate is managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust under an access agreement between the owner and Surrey County Council. Forestry Commission land to the west of Coldharbour Lane is owned and managed by the Commission. Redlands Wood and the southern Pasture Wood are managed by the Commission lease from private landowners. At the foot of the board are the following images from left to right: a) Greensand Way b) Friday Street Pond c) Rhododendron Wood d) Leith Hill Tower

This information board is located at the Windy Gap car park in Abinger Road RH5 6LX south of Leith Hill. It has the following wording: Wotton Estate A traditional landscape The commons and woods of Wotton Common, Abinger Common, Broadmoor and Pasture Wood are all in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) First Column A Changing Landscape This area is part of the Wealden Greensand, which has an acid free-draining soil. People, and the ways they use the land, have long influenced the landscape here. As you explore, look for clues to how it has changed over time. Centuries of cutting and grazing once created heathland, with heathers and other shrubby plants. Nowadays you see mainly semi-natural woodland, forestry plantations, and some remnants of heathland. Some older woods have been here for centuries. Here you can see large oak, beech and yew trees. You will also see fallen wood - home to rare beetles and other insects. The younger woods have faster-growing trees like birch, ash and scots pine, which colonised the heathland once it was left ungrazed. Images: a) Scots pine is one of the first trees to colonise ungrazed heathland. b) An oak tree supports hundreds of types of insects. c) Some of the yew trees are centuries old. Second column Echoes from History Commons date from Saxon times, when the Lord of the Manor granted rights to certain householders, called Commoners. These included the right to collect fallen wood (Rights of Estovers), graze animals (Rights of pasture), and dig turf or peat for fuel (Rights of Turbary). The Wotton estate has been owned by the Evelyn family since Elizabethan times. Images top left: Gorse was once threshed to feed to Livestock and was also used as fuelwood. top right: Bilberry bushes are evergreen so can be seen all year round. lower left: Meadow brown (butterfly) lower right: Brimstone (butterfly) Abinger Common Within Abinger Common there is a very unusual woodland of oak trees with bilberry bushes growing underneath them. Bilberry normally grows on open moors. The wood has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Third column Pasture Wood Pasture Wood was once used for grazing animals and producing timber. The trees are either pollarded (cut above the height of animals' heads) or coppiced (cut at ground level), to give a regular supply of poles for timber. Images from left to right Pollarded beech and Coppiced hazel Managing Woodlands Much of England was once covered with woodland. Then over many centuries, it was cleared and used to meet the needs of an increasing population. By the first half of the twentieth century, woodland covered just five per cent of England. In the last fifty years it has increased again to eight per cent, as economics and national agricultural policy meant that land previously kept clear has been allowed to grow over. Unfortunately, without management there are many dark and overgrown woods with limited biodiversity. The Wotton Estate manages its woodlands commercially, planting trees and harvesting for timber. You may well see signs of forestry activity. Please help by being very careful with cigarettes and other fire hazards. Fourth column Users Guide There is a network of footpaths and bridleways for you to explore on these sites (for your safety there may be temporary restrictions due to forestry activities). Horses and cyclists must keep to the routes marked as bridleways and byways open to all traffic. Images of waymarkers from left to right: a) Public Footpath (Black with yellow arrow) b) Public Bridleway (White with blue arrow) c) Public Byway (White with red arrow) d) Public Footpath-Greensand Way (Black with yellow arrow and GW) Fenced areas are private This area is very vulnerable to fire. Please be very careful with cigarettes and other potential hazards. The Ordnance Survey map for this area is Explorer No.146 (Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate) For more information, contact the Countryside Ranger or Surrey Wildlife Trust Countryside Services at the numbers given on that noticeboard. The paths of the Wotton Estate marked on the adjacent map Link are open to the public through an access agreement with Surrey County Council. Surrey Wildlife Trust Countryside Services manage this agreement on behalf of the County Council. Places to see in the area On the adjacent panel you will see a map of the whole area, including the footpaths and bridleways across it Link refers. The area is part of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Through it runs the Greensand Way, and from this, you can stop off at the National Trust's Leith Hill Tower. Built in 1765 the Tower is the highest point in south east England at more than 300 metres (984feet) above sea level. Image of Bluebells in spring. Foot of the board Seasonal Information From left to right a) Spring - As the weather warms, a flush of woodland flowers bloom. Violets and pale yellow primroses are among the earliest. Later in spring, look for carpets of bluebells and patches of wood sorrel, with delicate white flowers and clover-like leaves. b) Summer - Butterflies, moths and other insects are at their peak. On warm summer evenings, bats hunt for insects in the woods, along trackways and over Friday Street pond. Look for blueberries in the woods on Leith Hill in late August. c) Autumn - Autumn is the season for fungi. The best place to look are the woods which have lots of rotting wood. A few are poisonous to people, but they are an important food for animals. Please don't pick them. d) Winter - Now the trees are bare, it is easier to see the underlying pattern of the landscape. Lichens and mosses become more obvious too, and you are more likely to spot the elusive roe deer.

This sign is located in Abinger Road RH5 6LX with a notice below mentioning that Cockshot Wood was planted in 1984 in memory of Frances Goddard Knowles (1902-1983).

This information board is at The Landslip car park in Abinger Road RH5 6HG, east of Leith Hill. It has the following wording: Mosses Wood Arboretum and Frank's Wood Covering 69 acres Left column Welcome to Mosses Wood. As you stand here you are surrounded by some spectacular specimen trees which form part of an arboretum. The arboretum is full of an array of interesting pines towering high above. The older of these trees were planted in the mid 1800s, some of which form an avenue created by Alexander Hargreaves Brown leading to his family home at Broome Hall. More recently, in 1995, the National Trust planted 100 trees to celebrate the centenary of the National Trust. Mosses Wood was donated to the National Trust by Lady Edith Ivy Pigott Brown in memory of her son Capt Sir John Pigott Brown who was killed in action in Tunisia on Christmas Day 1942. Lady Pigott Brown also lost her husband Capt Hargreaves Brown during the First World War at the first battle of Ypres on 29 October 1914. Both her husband and her son were in the Coldstream Guards. At the southern edge of Mosses Wood you will find a gate built in memory of Capt Pigott Brown, TQ1442 refers. Capt Hargreaves Brown After attending Sandhurst, Capt Brown was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1900 and served in South Africa between 1901-1902. He married Lady Pigott Brown on 18 October 1910 at the Guards Chapel in Wellington Barracks, London. At the outbreak of The First World War, Capt Brown was part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and deployed to France with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. The BEF was a small professional army (not much larger than today's modern British Army) and by the end of November 1914 they had all but destroyed while halting the continuous mass attacks by the much larger conscripted German army. Capt Brown was killed in action during the 1st Battle of Ypres on 29 October 1914. The exact account of what happened will never been known due to the losses sustained by the 1st Battalion and therefore no accounts exist. What is known is the Coldstream Guards were attacked at 05:30am under the cover of fog by the Bavarian Reserve Division. At this stage the BEF frontline was not much more than isolated outposts and the disaster was owned, in part, to the supporting machine guns failing to work due to the wrong calibre of rounds being supplied. Capt Brown's body was never recovered and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Middle and right column Image of Capt Sir John Pigott Brown Capt Sir John Pigott Brown Capt Pigott Brown followed his father's footsteps and was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. Like his father in 1914, he was also deployed to France under the BEF to halt the German Blitzkrieg in the summer of 1940. He received a gunshot wound to his head in Belgium and was sent back to the UK shortly before the evacuation of Dunkirk. After recovering from his wounds in November 1942, as part of Operation Torch, he deployed to North Africa. He was killed in action on Christmas Day 1942 during the first battle of Longstop Hill, a strategic high point overlooking Tunis. On Christmas Day morning he was Officer Commanding of the reserve company but was tasked with taking over command of Number 3 Company. Shortly after his arrival at Longstop Hill, the Coldstream Guards were attacked by 1 Company of the 69 Panzer Grenadier regiment. The attack was started by a heavy artillery barrage and Captain Pigott Brown's position took a direct hit. It also killed Sgt Noble and WO2 (CSM) Callaghan. Like his father in 1914, his final resting place is unknown and he is remembered at The Medjez-El-Bab memorial in Tunisia. The pink walk follows a footpath through Frank's Wood, named after National Trust woodsman Frank Longhurst who planted the oak trees in 1949. This walk is particularly beautiful in spring when the bluebells are in flower. The woodland floor is transformed into a sea of purple, a really spectacular display. This area is particularly prone to landslips due to its geology: the first of which is believed to have occurred when Elizabeth I was on the throne. More recently in 2000, the land slipped again causing damage to the road. There is still evidence today of the landslip. There is more information about the geology of Leith Hill on the noticeboard at the Tower. Map of the Leith Hill area with photos of the memorial gate and inscription beside it. Images of the following trees from left to right: a) Sweet Gum or Liquidambar styraciflua b) Monkey Puzzle or Araucaria c) Pond Cypress or Taxodium ascendens d) Bosnian Pine or Pinus Heldreichii c)

This NT sign is in Abinger Road RH5 6HG and is by a footpath leading to Leith Hill. Coldharbour Common, which comprises of 104 acres (42.1 hectares) of woodland and open space, was acquired by the National Trust in 1986 through the National Heritage Memorial Fund.