Walk the Hogsmill along Hogsmill Open Space
The importance of old maps Participants largely from Malden Manor and the Sunray Estate community groups, joined me for a three hour walk along the Hogsmill organised by the Sustrans. Sharing information about our open spaces can assist in their protection. Furzeland House We began by looking at old maps revealing how the river had been straightened in three sections; and how former land-use was reflected in the names of local streets and buildings such as at Furzeland house, which would have been built on the site of common land growing gorse. We discussed two corridors additional to the river that are considered important for animal movement: the railway used by reptiles for basking on substrates; the pylons, where the vegetation beneath requires annual management for access and maintenance. The latter attracts species totally, dependent on the type of management employed (ranging from traditional coppicing at Castle Hil...