Chislehurst Commons

About

Chislehurst Commons, which include both Chislehurst and St. Paul’s Cray Commons, comprises 180 acres of woods, grassland, heathland and several ponds in and around Chislehurst in the London Borough of Bromley.

The privately owned land has been preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of the community under an Act of Parliament passed in 1888. Under this law, a voluntary Board of Trustees has legal responsibility for managing and maintaining the Commons as a registered charity.

The Commons are home to rare species of plants as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. Pedestrians enjoy unlimited right of access to the land. There are also bridle paths which are clearly marked by white and blue stripes on trees.

The land is not maintained by the Borough of Bromley or the National Trust. Upkeep of the Commons costs £100k a year which must be raised through grants and charitable donations from residents.

Chislehurst Commons employs two salaried Keepers who work full-time on maintaining the land. Watch the short film below to learn more about their role:

See video below for an aerial view of Chislehurst Commons by DTV Productions: