Hogsmill Ewell stepping stones closes for the second time

The stones across the Hogsmill River were closed again when we visited on Wednesday, February 25.

This follows our previous visit on February 18, when the stones remained open despite being submerged and slippery after heavy rainfall in the area.

The fences installed near Chamber Mead, which were open at both ends on February 18, are now also closed.

The stones form part of a key walking route linking Ewell to Kingston, including sections of the London Loop, and are popular with people enjoying riverside walks.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said temporary safety measures were necessary to prevent people slipping on stones that can become partially or fully submerged after heavy rain.

The Hogsmill is a globally rare chalk stream, one of only a couple of hundred in the world, and this stretch has been the focus of decades of habitat improvement works.

Projects have included removing concrete channels, adding meanders and riffles, and installing wetlands upstream at Chamber Mead to intercept polluted water before it reaches the stones.

The stepping stones also hold cultural significance, with the Victorian Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais having the Hogsmill banks near Ewell as the backdrop for his famous Ophelia in the early 1850s.

While the partial reopening allows access, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council said it is “working with our partners to resolve the issue” and urged people to respect the fencing until it is safe to reopen.

An Environment Agency spokesperson previously said: “The Environment Agency has made the decision to restrict access to the Hogsmill stepping stones as a temporary measure due to health and safety considerations.

“We apologise for any inconvenience or frustration caused.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly; we consider it a necessary interim measure while we agree on a more permanent solution with the relevant stakeholders.”