Banstead Village

This image of Banstead Station shows the small wartime pillbox just beyond the station entrance – so quite historic. The estimated date is probably spot-on.

Pretty much in the middle of nowhere, at least a mile from Banstead itself, and on a dangerous double bend - what an inspired location for a railway station! And if that weren't enough, both the local rifle club, and the 3rd Banstead cubs and scouts, had their meeting places opposite the station.

You can see the open heathland on both sides of the road. This was prior to the disaster of Myxamotosis which from 1953 onward decimated the wild rabbit population leading to the destruction of the open heathland in this area and its colonisation by a dense thicket of scrub trees. This led to the loss of most of the chalk grassland insect species that lived on this part of the downs and the small mammals, lizards and birds that also lived here. I studied these while a child in Beechholme just along the lane from the station.

Yes I can remember how it was such a haven for wildlife before the destruction of the wild rabbit population too. I also studied nature which was my favourite lesson at Woodmansterne school. The thicket of scrub now completely obliterates the views I knew as a child.
Dartmoor National Park near to where I now live is planning to restrict grazing by reducing the numbers of Dartmoor hill ponies, sheep and cattle, to promote heathland, why can’t they see what will happen when that comes into force.

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