Blue carpet: King’s Wood is one of Croydon’s many remarkable public open spaces, noted for its bluebells in late spring
One of Croydon’s many remarkable open spaces will be the venue for expertly guided walks over the next few weeks.
“Gentle walks learning more about beautiful King’s Wood”, according to the Friends of King’s Wood, with the first one taking place next Sunday morning, March 17.
The walks are free, and no need to book.
King’s Wood is in Sanderstead, and was once called Sanderstead Wood, until some early 19th Century OS mapper got his co-ordinates in a twist and gave the wrong name to the wrong wood, according to the council’s history of King’s Wood.
The wood covers 147 acres and is on relatively flat ground. It was purchased in 1937 under the Green Belt Act and is now public open space. It was originally laid out for shooting, with wide rides dissecting the woodland. Beaters used to systematically work through each section, driving game birds towards the guns.
There is the site of a Romano‐British settlement on the northern boundary, a small farmstead undisturbed for 2,000 years, which was partially excavated in the 1950s. The site, which lay on the edge of a small valley in the wood, was enclosed by a small semi‐circular earthwork.
During the dig of 1959 a chance strike by a pick axe hit a large Roman burial‐urn. This led to the discovery of a small 1st century cemetery a few feet beyond the gateway to the settlement and alongside a short stretch of metalled road. Five interments were excavated and thoroughly examined; all five burials were of babies and young children, representing the only children’s cemetery of this period found in this area.
Find out more: the guided walks will discover there’s much changing in the woods through spring
Both to the east and to the west of the farmstead run established Iron Age trackways and the King’s Wood site was directly connected to both.
King’s Wood was closely linked with an area of land now occupied by Atwood Primary School on Limpsfield Road. In 1960, during construction, 20 holes were discovered and the contents, mainly pottery dating from 250‐150 BC, indicated that they had been used mainly as rubbish pits. One may have been the floor of a hut and others may have held timber uprights.
Late April and early May is one of the best times to visit King’s Wood when the ground is carpeted with bluebells growing between the oaks, sweet chestnut, birch and hazel.
And the Friends’ group guided walks over the next couple of months, led by Marion Davis, will follow the emergence of the woods, from winter, into spring, through towards summer.
Children are welcome, but not dogs.
Each walk starts at 10am from where Orchard Road, Sanderstead (off Limpsfield Road, Bus 403) enters the wood. The walk will end at the starting point by around noon.
Sun Mar 17: AN ANCIENT WOOD WELCOMES LIFE
Coppicing techniques ensured the long life of our native woodlands
Fri Apr 5: FLOWERS OF THE WOODLAND
Small plants flourish before leaves open in the canopy
Fri Apr 26: IS THE WOODLAND FLOOR BLUE ?
Before green leaves open above us, will the Bluebells be at their best?
Fri May 31: LEAVES IN THE CANOPY
Discover the wealth of native trees
Read more: Claim FREE birdspotting guide from the London Wildlife Trust
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