Wildlife on Mitcham Common

Mitcham Common supports an array of wildlife due to the varying habitats present, from acid grassland, heathlands, scrub, meadows and woodlands.

According to the Mitcham Common Management Plan (pdf) and sightings from the Friends, these are the species you may find on the Common:

Reptiles and Amphibians

  • Common lizard
  • Frog
  • Grass snake (possible)
  • Slow-worm
  • Smooth newt
  • Toad

Mammals

  • Bank and field voles
  • Common and Pygmy shrew
  • Hedgehog
  • Noctule and Pipistrelle bats
  • Red Fox
  • Stoat
  • Water shrew
  • Weasel
  • Wood and Yellow-necked mouse

Birds

  • Blackbird
  • Blackcap
  • Blue tit
  • Canada goose
  • Carrion crow
  • Chiffchaff
  • Coot
  • Cormorant
  • Dunnock
  • Egyptian goose
  • Garden warbler
  • Goldfinch
  • Great Spotted woodpecker
  • Great tit
  • Green woodpecker
  • Grey heron
  • Grey wagtail
  • House sparrow
  • Jay
  • Kestrel
  • Lesser spotted woodpecker
  • Linnet
  • Little egret
  • Long-tailed tit
  • Magpie
  • Mallard
  • Moorhen
  • Mute swan
  • Reed bunting
  • Ring-necked parakeet
  • Robin
  • Skylark (in the past)
  • Song thrush
  • Sparrow hawk
  • Starling
  • Swift
  • Tawny owl
  • Tufted duck
  • Whitethroat and Lesser whitethroat
  • Willow warbler
  • Wren

You can help us record wildlife on the Common by recording your sightings on platforms like iRecord, iNaturalist and GiGL.

How the Friends are helping wildlife on the Common

  • Litter picking
  • Raising any wildlife concerns to the Mitcham Common Conservators
  • Tree planting
  • Volunteering with the Warden of Mitcham Common by helping with habitat maintenance tasks
  • Helping hedgehogs
  • Taking part in Citizen Science Surveys

How you can help the wildlife on the Common

  • Do not allow your dog to disturb or harm wildlife, especially during the spring and summer months when young are born
  • Do not litter
  • If a wild animal needs rescuing, please contact the RSPCA, the Wildlife Aid Foundation or the Swan Sanctuary. Also, email the Mitcham Common Manager and Warden at mitchamcommoninfo@merton.gov.uk
  • If you witness a crime against animals, a wild bird or their nests, please report it to the police on 999 or 101. The MPS Wildlife Crime Unit can also be contacted on wildlife@met.police.uk See also the Met Police webpage on wildlife crime.
  • Take part in Citizen Science Surveys

If you would like to help protect the wildlife on Mitcham Common, please consider becoming a Friend.