Peter Stewart

Sean is going to be with us a little bit later on in our sports sequence to tell us all about the cyclocross event, which is coming to Priory Park in a couple of weeks' time. Plus, we've got the second part of the Good Time Guide, taking us from Monday through to next Saturday, Planet Rygade Stars and our 60-second soundscape too.

Sean is going to be with us a little bit later on in our sports sequence to tell us all about the cyclocross event, which is coming to Priory Park in a couple of weeks' time. Plus, we've got the second part of the Good Time Guide, taking us from Monday through to next Saturday, Planet Rygade Stars and our 60-second soundscape too.

But first, did you know that this coming week is Heath Week across the country? Yeah, Monday 29th July through until Sunday. So here's the first in our occasional mini-series taking a look at Reigate Heath. 120 acres of it. It's a site of special scientific interest. It's owned by the council. It's got a really rich history and a wealth of wildlife. And it's a very sacred place.

But first, did you know that this coming week is Heath Week across the country? Yeah, Monday 29th July through until Sunday. So here's the first in our occasional mini-series taking a look at Reigate Heath. 120 acres of it. It's a site of special scientific interest. It's owned by the council. It's got a really rich history and a wealth of wildlife. And it's a very sacred place.

I don't know whether you know this, but in the Bronze Age, which is 2,500 years BC, there were nine burial mounds placed around here. They're classed as ancient monuments. It's what's called a bowl-barrow cemetery. And those burial mounds are called tumuli. I don't know whether you've seen them, but they are still visible today, if you know where to look.

I don't know whether you know this, but in the Bronze Age, which is 2,500 years BC, there were nine burial mounds placed around here. They're classed as ancient monuments. It's what's called a bowl-barrow cemetery. And those burial mounds are called tumuli. I don't know whether you've seen them, but they are still visible today, if you know where to look.

They're topped by large pine trees, which were actually put in place by the Victorians, as it happens. And finds from this time, from the Bronze Age, they found various remnants of Bronze Age man and woman living in these parts. Worked flints, hunting weapons, even two Neolithic axes were found on the heath in recent years.

They're topped by large pine trees, which were actually put in place by the Victorians, as it happens. And finds from this time, from the Bronze Age, they found various remnants of Bronze Age man and woman living in these parts. Worked flints, hunting weapons, even two Neolithic axes were found on the heath in recent years.

And there's much evidence that the area was settled here in the medieval period as well. The entry in the Doomsday Book shows that Edward the Confessor held an estate here. It was part of Queen Edith's dowry and eventually passed to William the Conqueror.

And there's much evidence that the area was settled here in the medieval period as well. The entry in the Doomsday Book shows that Edward the Confessor held an estate here. It was part of Queen Edith's dowry and eventually passed to William the Conqueror.

And then William, or maybe his son William Rufus, granted the manor, along with many others to a name you'll know, William de Warren, on his elevation when he became the Earl of Surrey. We've spoken about William de Warren, of course, before. And there are various references to William de Warren around the Reigate area, as you know. I mean, he built the castle, didn't he? He established the town.

And then William, or maybe his son William Rufus, granted the manor, along with many others to a name you'll know, William de Warren, on his elevation when he became the Earl of Surrey. We've spoken about William de Warren, of course, before. And there are various references to William de Warren around the Reigate area, as you know. I mean, he built the castle, didn't he? He established the town.

He built a hospital, which later became Reigate Priory. And in those days, Reigate Heath would have formed part of the wastes of the manor of Reigate. And the area was probably used by commoners to graze their cattle and other livestock.

He built a hospital, which later became Reigate Priory. And in those days, Reigate Heath would have formed part of the wastes of the manor of Reigate. And the area was probably used by commoners to graze their cattle and other livestock.

Cattle, horses, pigs, geese, goats, all sorts of stock would have been driven across the heaths and through the lanes and the roads which ran out, fan out from Reigate Heath, resulting in the layout of the heath and its surroundings that we still see today. Heath pigs used to be kept in the woods near here.

Cattle, horses, pigs, geese, goats, all sorts of stock would have been driven across the heaths and through the lanes and the roads which ran out, fan out from Reigate Heath, resulting in the layout of the heath and its surroundings that we still see today. Heath pigs used to be kept in the woods near here.

Locally, a little bit further down Flangeford Road and over to the left-hand side if you're going south, that area of woodland was actually known as Wickens Wood after the family who kept them there. And if you go exploring in that neck of the woods, quite literally, you may be able to find some remnants of some of the old pig pens.

Locally, a little bit further down Flangeford Road and over to the left-hand side if you're going south, that area of woodland was actually known as Wickens Wood after the family who kept them there. And if you go exploring in that neck of the woods, quite literally, you may be able to find some remnants of some of the old pig pens.

And all that grazing by various livestock resulted in the really sandy soil, which obviously is low fertility, could only support non-aggressive plants like heather, gorse and other typically heathland vegetation. And in the early 20th century, changing farming methods and urban development meant a loss of 85% of heathland in Surrey since the late 18th century.

And all that grazing by various livestock resulted in the really sandy soil, which obviously is low fertility, could only support non-aggressive plants like heather, gorse and other typically heathland vegetation. And in the early 20th century, changing farming methods and urban development meant a loss of 85% of heathland in Surrey since the late 18th century.