Paches is an area of about 15 acres on the edge of St Thomas’ Common in Ashtead Woods.  The nearest access is on the A243 (OS LR SHT 187 TQ/365593) – footpath to Ashtead Common by double steel, 6 bar gates opposite Leatherhead Golf Course Car Park. Follow the track into the woods and bear right, the entrance to the site is on the left about 20 yards from the bend (ref 166592).

The area is not fenced and is open to the general public.

The area encompassing Paches belonged to Merton Priory under a charter gifted by King Henry I in 1121.  Walter de Merton founded Merton College, Oxford, in 1274 and they hold the deeds to the land.

Scouting has had the use of the area by agreement with Merton College for over 70 years and, while there used to be clearings each designated as sites for the various Groups, the whole site became overgrown when access was lost during the construction of the M25.  Since regaining access, only a limited number of Groups have made use of the site.

Although water was laid to the site it was cut off outside the gates many years ago due to a leak.  There are no other facilities on site.**

Any use of the site must be cleared in advance with Gary Baker (gb.skip23@gmail.com).

Normal rules apply for camping ie submission of a NAN and Risk Assessment via the Scouts.org system.  This site strictly requires a Greenfield Nights Away Permit but, for Groups without such a permit, it may be possible to arrange cover within W&W.

Paches is part of a larger area of Special Scientific Interest, but the Nature Conservancy Council are quite prepared for Scouts to continue with normal activities providing no damage is done to any standing dead wood – notable the ancient Oak pollards which house a number of rare insects. Permission of the NCC is required before any trees can be felled but in the past this has been granted in respect of very overgrown Silver Birch.

The site is ideal for Backwoodsmanship and for Wide Games, but our Young People must not be allowed to camp there without sufficient adult supervision.  Being only a few miles from the District, many have used the site for weekly meetings during the summer months and older members have used it for survival training.

** The District Trustees have approved the purchase of a composting toilet for use at Paches.

Contact Gary Baker for details and availability.