Epsom Common Association 
Epsom Common Association supports the preservation and protection of Epsom Common, a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. We work in partnership with Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, the Lower Mole Partnership and Natural England to contribute to the long-term management and conservation of the Common.
See our Events, Diary and News Pages for more information on what is happening on Epsom Common
Epsom Common Association (ECA) was founded in 1974 by a group of local people who cared passionately about the protection and future welfare of Epsom Common. Now, 50 years on, the ECA has over 800 members and more than 30 volunteers, the ECOVOLS, who regularly carry out conservation management tasks on the Common.
The Work of the Association

• Designation as a Local Nature Reserve

We supported the work of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, owners of the Common, to ensure that the Common achieved status as a Local Nature Reserve in 2001. As a Local Nature Reserve, the Common has better protection from possible development or encroachment that has an adverse affect on the wildlife.

• Restoration of the medieval Great Pond

The ECA started work in 1975 to restore the drained medieval Great Pond. The work took four years to complete and was achieved by ECA volunteers at cost of only £180. The Nature Conservancy Council (now Natural England) contributed to these costs on condition that the pond is kept as a wildlife area.

• Great-Stew-Pond

The Great Pond is now a beautiful stretch of water covering about 6 acres. It is protected from fishing and is kept as a wildlife reserve for pond life, amphibians and resident wildfowl such as coots, moor hen, mallard, tufted duck, great crested grebes, swans and herons. The water is also visited by less common wildfowl in the winter. The ECA won a Civic Trust Award for this work.

• All weather horse ride

Our collaboration with Epsom and Ewell Borough Council led to the creation of an all weather circular horse ride which contributes substantially to the preservation of the footpaths. For further information on our current activities and campaigns see the ECA Newsletter.
Our goals are:

• To protect the Common from any proposed building, road development or encroachment
• To preserve the amenity value of the Common for all users
• To maintain and enhance the Commons unique character and wide range of habitats and status as a Site   of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Nature Reserve (LNR)
• To continue a joint management forum with Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and participate further in the long-term management of the Common through the Management Plan.
Species survey and recordings

• We organise species surveys and recordings by local naturalist groups and our volunteers contribute to the Epsom & Ewell Council’s database of species found on the Common.