Dancer Dick Wood
In 'Places and Buildings by H.V. Molesworth Roberts 1970, it is asserted that Dancer Dick wood, at the junction of Cromwell road and Salisbury road, is a relic of the Great Park of Nonsuch. This woodland copse owned by Epsom and Ewell council is partially responsible for the strong woodland bird community in the district, which includes nesting nuthatches, tree creepers and woodpeckers; there must be some association with these birds and those in a nearby wood designated a Site of Nature Conservation Importance at Riverhill north-west of the Hogsmill. The wood may have been a pasture - according to the 1871 OS map - although some of the old oak trees may pre-date this; could wood pasture be more likely. I was first told of the wood's existence from Lucy Furlong, recounting family walks. After a couple of visits , I was able to ascertain that pipistrelle bats are using the trees for roosting, emerging rarly, at 30 minutes before sun...