Wimbledon Common - Added to Parks and Recreation in London

I have just added this to the map of places to fly your drone at Drone Scene:

Land owner permission requirements unknown.

Wimbledon Common, located in Wimbledon, South West London, has a rich history dating back centuries. Originally part of the Manor of Wimbledon, it was used for various purposes over the years, including grazing land, agriculture, and hunting grounds for the local nobility.

In the 19th century, Wimbledon Common became a popular leisure destination, attracting visitors for picnics, walks, and horse riding. It was during this time that efforts were made to preserve the common from encroaching development.

Today, Wimbledon Common remains a beloved green space, offering recreational activities such as walking, running, cycling, and birdwatching. It is also home to various wildlife and plant species, contributing to its importance as a natural habitat within an urban environment.

It is a “Site of Special Scientific Interest” and it does get very busy during the summer. So care should ve taken not to disurb the natural wildlife and avoiding flight over groups of people. You should also avoid the helicopter routes

There is free parking on the roads around the common but you may have to drive around a while to find a space, especially at weekends.

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 18/02/2024. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location.

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Sorry to be a killjoy but It’s worth noting that the Wimbledon & Putney Commons Conservators (who own and maintain the common) have a byelaw (No.46) restricting TOAL and even operation of RC models on their land with level 1 fine (currently £200).
More info can be found on their byelaws page:
https://www.wpcc.org.uk/governance/byelaws

Merton council’s drone policy (while slightly incorrect in regard to sub 250g) is simply to abide by the drone code so if you TOAL on their land you could still fly over the common.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/freedom_of_information_request_b_461/response/2587778/attach/html/3/Drone%20policy.docx.html

It’s good to check byelaws as a bit of heathland near me restricts drone operations but the byelaw is so dated that it’s only a £2 fine.

Thanks for the headsup. Just for clarification my TOAL was outside the common boundary.

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