Growing woodland: encroachment on some fields has seen the woodland extending in Littleheath over the past two decades

THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR: For his latest visit to a group of hard-working conservationists and volunteers, KEN TOWL retraces his steps from one of his LOOP walks to discover ‘Selsdon’s secret wood’

Volunteer guide: Chris Hyde from the Friends of Littleheath Woods

You know that look you get when you tell people you are from Croydon?

The faux sympathy, the “Oh, I’m so sorry”, the assumption that you will collude with the characterisation of Croydon as just a little bit more awful than any other London borough?

I couldn’t help but think just how inappropriate and simplistic it is as I strolled through the magnificent beech trees of Littleheath Woods. I could not help but notice the almost pristine, litter-free nature of the place. I could have been a thousand miles from civilisation.

I wasn’t, though. I was accompanied by Chris Hyde, the treasurer and work-party organiser for the Friends of Littleheath Woods. She took me on a tour around the 62 ares of wood and grassland that make up this oasis of nature that is hidden away behind suburban back gardens. Littleheath is known to some as “Selsdon’s secret wood”, and Chris explained that the lack of rubbish was due to the daily visits of the Friends’ wonderful litter-pickers Keith and Linda.

Nature walk: black knapweed is one of the native species that the Friends try to conserve

There are several ways into the secret wood, gaps between the houses that line Littleheath Road to the west and gaps in the hedge along Edgecoombe Road on the Monks Hill estate to the east.

You can also enter the woods, as I did several years ago, from Croham Valley Road and cut across the woods diagonally, following the Vanguard Way, a 66-mile walking route that starts at East Croydon Station and ends at Newhaven on the south coast.

Those walkers and ramblers following Section 4 of the London Outer Orbital Path – the LOOP – enter the woods at the bottom of Bramley Bank, cut across Fallen Oak Field and join the wide avenue through sweet chestnuts that makes up the same bridleway that the Vanguard Way follows. I noted this walk, the second part of Section 4, for this website eight years ago.

Water course: Littleheath’s ponds have dried up this summer, but in most years volunteers devote time to keeping them clean

But now, Chris took me to parts of the woods that I had not previously visited, the coppicing area that represents a great part of the work that the Friends do, the (currently dry) ponds and the dead hedging in what is now woodland but was once the wonderfully-named Gruttenden’s Field.

Chris explained how, over time, the woods have encroached on the grassland and how this informed much of the Friends’ work. They have created “rides” through the woods, cutting back and coppicing along the sides of the paths, cutting back holly and other faster-growing species, promoting, on one hand, greater diversity and, on the other, better public access.

Way marker: the Vanguard Way passes through the woods en route to the coast

Down in Clear’s Croft, Chris introduced me to some of the Friends, who were in the middle of their weekly work party. Chris told me that some locals remembered this as the site of potato-growing during World War II and rationing – though this might be a suburban myth.

I met Jeff, who was on his knees clearing saplings from the edge of the field, ahead of the council’s annual mowing in September. He explained how this way, the Friends were able to deal with “woodland creep” and encourage the council to mow right up to the edge.

Butterfly haven: the woods are rich in wildlife, such as this Gatekeeper

The weekly work parties (Tuesdays, from 9.30am to 1pm) carry out a variety of other tasks including planting trees, coppicing, control of invasive species and maintenance of the ponds. Chris was clear that new volunteers are always welcome and tools and gloves would be provided.

If you need a reason to volunteer, how about the list that Chris gave me?

“Exercise”, “Being outdoors and in a green space”, “Spend time with like-minded people”, “Learn about conservation”, “Interest in local flora and fauna”, “Learn new skills”, “Desire to protect the local environment”, “To give something back” and “Get away from the spouse – don’t put that in!”

All valid reasons of course, and, on the whole, indicative of a positive spirit.

Just as I was about to leave, I encountered that spirit writ large in the persons of Keith and Linda, the heroic volunteer litter-pickers. They had just come from picking litter in their own street. Keith explained that a few years ago he had had heart problems and, recovering, had wondered what he could do, now that some of the more physical demands of woodland maintenance were unsuitable for him.

I came away from Littleheath Woods energised by a faith in people in general and in Croydon residents in particular. Thanks Chris, and Keith and Linda, and all the Friends of Littleheath Woods.

• To find out more about the Friends of Littleheath Woods, volunteer days and contact details, visit their website here

• Ken Towl is making visits to Croydon’s many Friends groups, and the green spaces that are in their care

Read more: Thanks to the magic of Merlin there’s more to see in Croham Hurst
Read more: Friends on a mission in Selhurst’s neglected Whitehorse Rec

Inside Croydon – If you want real journalism, delivering real news, from a publication that is actually based in the borough, please consider paying for it. Sign up today: click here for more details

PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates

• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com

• As featured on Google News Showcase

• We offer FREE ads to community groups when they have members who are paid subscribers to Inside Croydon

• Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here

• Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network