News from the Commons
6th October 2026
Since my last blog we have had lots of thoroughly enjoyable events on the Commons, a bat walk with Michael Blencowe (with bats coming out to play!), a fungi identification walk and talk with Martin Allison, a Woodland Adventurers session where we made autumnal wind chimes, practised using hand tools, went on a fungi spotting nature walk and did lots of halloween colouring and lots of volunteering sessions with litter picking, cutting back epicormic growth on our lime trees, scrub clearance and pond clearances. It’s exhausting just reading the list let alone taking part! Please do keep an eye on the events page of our website, to find an activity that interests you.
Our fabulous fungi!
After a very long wait, work has started to restore the 101 Steps, alternatively known as the Roman Steps, at Happy Valley on Rusthall Common. Our contractor has worked hard to replace the drainage, clear back the overgrown vegetation and cleare the existing steps to expose the beautiful stone. The next steps (apologies!) are the resetting of the steps to make them much safer for use and importantly to ensure there are 101 steps, not 98 or 103 or 107, that just won’t do!
New drainage.
Restoring such an important historical feature.
We’re incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful place on our doorstep, and the vast majority of people who enjoy the Commons treat it with the care and respect it deserves. Sadly, however, we do occasionally see behaviour that causes damage or spoils the enjoyment of others. Please remember that motorbikes, scooters and quad bikes are not permitted on the Commons. Campfires, BBQs, chainsaws and graffiti are also prohibited, as is any behaviour that could put others at risk or prevent them from enjoying the Commons. Please help us to look after this precious landscape so that everyone can continue to enjoy it. If you see behaviour that presents an immediate risk or involves serious anti-social behaviour, please call 999. For non-emergency incidents or crimes, please report them by calling 101 or online at https://www.kent.police.uk/
And because nobody likes to end on a negative, we were delighted to learn that Tunbridge Wells Common had been awarded a Gold in the South and South-East In Bloom and was the category winner for commons and open spaces. We received our awards at RHS Wisley in late September and we could not have been more pleased that our hard work and the hard work of our volunteers and contractors has been recognised.
Didn’t we do well!
