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A metropolitan common, the main part comprising registration unit CL278 extending to about 159 hectares, located south-west of Esher in north Surrey. The common is one of several contiguous areas of common land known as the Esher commons, and owned and managed by Elmbridge Borough Council. Esher common is bounded by the Claremont Park estate to the north, Oxshott Heath (separately managed by a board of conservators) to the south, Arbrook common to the east, and the Portsmouth Road to the west, although further separate units of common lie beyond that road (Fairmile and West End commons). The A3 dual carriageway bisects the common: replacement land was designated as common land at the Ledges, further west.
Although once largely open heathland, a cessation of grazing, probably early in the twentieth century, and well-intentioned planting of conifers, has caused most of the common to be evolve into dense woodland: however, various areas of heathland can be found along the course of the electricity transmission line which crosses the common from east to west, and which must be kept clear of trees to avoid the risk of short circuits and consequent fire, and elsewhere where conifers have been cut down as part of a programme to recreate the heathland habitat and recover favourable condition of the site of special scientific interest.
The common is subject to a public right of access under section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925, although byelaws made by the council confine horse riders to several designated horse rides, and the one public bridleway in the corner, Esher 53/54, south-west across West Bridge.

Created: Sun, 28 Jul 2013, Updated: Sun, 28 Jul 2013