Butterfly Monitoring at Tanyard Meadow
Tanyard Meadows, Horley Transect route Description
Tanyard Meadows is a 57 acre space with many features characteristic of the Lowland Weald: water meadows, hedgerows and small woods bordering the Burstow Stream. Formerly farmland, the ownership of the site was transferred back to Reigate and Banstead Council in 2018 as part of the Acres development. It is managed by the Greenspaces team.
There is parking close to the start of the route on Orchard Drive and in surrounding streets.
The transect route starts at the interpretation board in Lower Five Acres field, just off Orchard Drive.
Section 1: From the interpretation board (TQ28893 44355), turn left off the tarmac path to follow a grass path across the field to a gap in the scrub edge – 157 metres.
Section 2: Turn left through the gap (TQ28933 44487), to enter Brook Field with reed beds to the left-hand side. Follow the path to the right, under electricity pylons and into Two Acre Field. The path passes through rough grassland and between bramble patches to the eastern field edge and ditch – returning to the tarmac path and some wooden railings – 241 metres.
Section 3: At the tarmac path (TQ29043 44365), turn left and left along the ditch line in Courthouse Field. Circumnavigate the field keeping the scrub line to the left and return back along the east side of the field to return to the tarmac path - 344 metres.
Section 4: At the tarmac path (TQ29166 44390), turn left along the alley way with a drainage ditch on the right-hand side to reach the crossing Lake Lane (National Cycle Way) - 68 metres.
Section 5: Cross Lake Lane (TQ29238 44393) and in a few metres, turn left to follow the blackthorn edge of Great Lake Field with the ditch on the right-hand side. Walk down to the bottom of this edge and turn right to cross the ditch at TQ29255 44537. (Hopefully somebody will a plank of wood down to facilitate this – the alternative is to retrace steps.) Once across the ditch, follow the scrub edge along the side of the Burstow Stream to an entrance into woodland with a pylon on the right-hand side – 341 metres.
Section 6: From the entrance (TQ29427 44573), continue on the path through woods (Scotchman’s Copse) with the Burstow Stream to the left. Cross a wooden bridge (TQ29544 44557) and when the stream bends to the right, follow the path to a bridge – Tanyards Pond is opposite on the right-hand side– 310 metres.
Section 7: From the bridge (TQ29675 44465), follow the path as it bends to the right to walk along the top edge of Moat Field. Reach a wooden bridge at the end of the field – 156 metres.
Section 8: Cross the bridge (TQ29526 44474) and into Rough Field. Turn right to the top edge and walk along this to a gap leading into Great Lake Field – 145 metres.
Section 9: From the gap (TQ29425 44535) take the diagonal path crossing the field and follow this path as it swings left to join the tarmac path at the end of a section of wooden railings. Here turn right, with a ditch on the right-hand side and follow the path to an interpretation board. This is where the transect ends – 320 metres.
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Total distance – 2,082 metres
