Polite notice

This is a very Surrey-like sign seeking to deter people from using portable barbecues on Chobham Common. Given that it was only a couple of years ago that the common was ablaze I would have thought a rather sterner warning would be in order. Chobham Common is a National Natural Reserve and one of the best remaining examples of lowland heath in the world. It featured in a recent edition of the BBC's Countryfile programme where the action being taken to help the Common's recovery after the fires was covered. Volunteers were helping to clear scrub which I guess is something I should help with, and will look into. The extra photo is a view of one side of this vast heath, turn round and the Common extends for much the same distance in the other direction. It is bisected by the M3 which can be seen snaking out of the landscape in the extra photo.