Horton Country Park

Horton Country Park is a 152.3-hectare (376-acre) Local Nature Reserve in the Horton area north-west of Epsom in Surrey. It is owned and managed by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.[1][2]

Horton Country Park
TypeLocal Nature Reserve
LocationEpsom, Surrey
OS gridTQ 192 627
Area152.3 hectares (376 acres)
Managed byEpsom and Ewell Borough Council

Description

The park is a wooded recreation and amenities area occupying the east of a narrow upland watershed between two tributaries of the Hogsmill River (the Bonesgate Stream and the Horton Stream) . As such, the summit being the parish divide, it is in traditional terms, within Epsom parish and occupies land due west of the town, and due east of the semi-rural, semi-urban London district of Chessington.[3]

The park can be accessed by car via the Horton Lane entrance (locked to vehicles at night). Here, a large doughnut shaped car park can be found with a picnic area in the middle. Adjacent is a dog-free area and footpaths to Epsom Common, Chessington and West Ewell. The park is not closed to pedestrians at night.

Surrounding Area

The area is bounded in the north by Chessington Road in West Ewell. Horton Park Golf Course is contiguous with the north-east of the park. In the east, the park borders Clarendon Park and West Park Housing Estates, as well as Hobbledown and the David Lloyd Leisure Centre. The main entrance and car park is located on Horton Lane. Christchurch Road (B280) and Epsom Common are locates to the south, whilst the rural fields of Chessington and the Bonesgate Stream are adjacent to the west.

Sport and Recreation

Part of the area is occupied by Hobbledown Children's Farm, which contains various folkloric themed adventure playgrounds and a small zoo hosting domestic farm animals, and exotics such as meerkat, nilgai, emu and Bactrian camel. The farm is not open to adults without children. The Horton Light Railway used to run through this land from Ewell West railway station to the five psychiatric hospitals owned by the London County Council, known as the Epsom Cluster. Parts of the landscaped grounds of these hospitals have now been incorporated into the country park. Epsom and Ewell Harriers Athletics club often train here on a Sunday morning.

The Thames Down Link long-distance footpath from Kingston upon Thames to Box Hill & Westhumble station passes through the park.[4]

References
  1. "Horton Country Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  2. "Map of Horton Country Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  3. Epsom parish Archived 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine The Church of England Retrieved 2014-01-30
  4. "Thames Down Link" (PDF). Surrey County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.

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