Category Archives: Friends of Farthing Downs

Farthing Downs and Happy Valley Quiz Night, The Fox, Apr 13

C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Posted in Activities, Advertisement, Advertisement features, Community associations, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Pubs, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon becomes winter wonderland as forecast snow arrives

PHOTOSTORY: Locals woke up this morning to a dusting of light snow, turning parts of the borough into picture postcard scenes. ALAN ROBSON, on Farthing Down, and KEN TOWL, in the Addington Hills, were out and about bright and early … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Addington Hills, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Ken Towl | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Calves’ arrival comes right on time for Commons’ GPS herd

The rangers at City Commons, the precious open spaces around Coulsdon, Kenley and Riddlesdown, are celebrating the arrivals of the first new-borns in their herd of Sussex cattle. The rangers have been closely monitoring the cows and calves throughout the … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Kenley, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

South London’s commons people win international award

The City of London Corporation has won the World Urban Parks Legacy Award for 2024 in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the preservation, management and enhancement of London’s urban green spaces. It is the first collective city Legacy Award, … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Old Coulsdon, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Green Flags for Coulsdon, Riddlesdown and Farthing Downs

Six outstanding open spaces in Croydon and Bromley – Coulsdon Common; Farthing Downs and New Hill; Kenley Common; Riddlesdown; Spring Park and West Wickham Common – have all retained their prestigious Green Flag status, recognising them as some of the … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, South London Downs NNR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sheep return to Happy Valley with extra signs for dog owners

Conservation managers of one of Croydon’s sites of special scientific interest plead with public to behave responsibly when entering livestock areas Avid viewers of Clarkson’s Farm (other farming TV shows are available) will have picked up on the importance of … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Crime, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

ECRA and Farthing Downs Friends Quiz Night, May 18

Posted in Community associations, Coulsdon, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Friends of Farthing Downs | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Larks! Downs rangers ask ramblers to care for nesting birds

A bracing spring day (at last!) and a brisk amble across Farthing Downs and Happy Valley might be just the thing for a Bank Holiday Monday. But the rangers who look after the wildlife and habitat on Croydon’s downs and … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Happy Valley flock of sheep removed after three killed by dogs

WARNING: This report contains some graphic and very distressing images A flock of sheep has had to be removed from Happy Valley in Coulsdon after three attacks by off-lead dogs in as many days. The sheep are managed by the … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Crime, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

ECRA and Friends of Farthing Downs Quiz Night, Sep 23

Posted in Activities, Community associations, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Friends of Farthing Downs | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

75th anniversary Farthing Downs Archaeology Day, Sep 2

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Free, guided Butterfly Walk, Farthing Downs, Jul 16

Posted in Activities, City Commons, Community associations, Coulsdon, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Happy Valley Wild Flower Walk, Farthing Downs, Jun 26

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Residents’ fund-raising Quiz Night, Old Coulsdon, May 14

Posted in Community associations, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Friends of Farthing Downs, Old Coulsdon | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

All Croydon parks ‘under threat’ says environmental campaign

A shocking report from charity CPRE London highlights how the council’s Local Plan has put every open space in the borough at risk from development, writes PAUL LUSHION, our environment correspondent Croydon, and its planning protection-lite revised Local Plan, has … Continue reading

Posted in Bromley Council, Charity, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Addiscombe Railway Park, Friends of Ashburton Park, Friends of Croham Hurst Woods, Friends of Crystal Palace Park, Friends of Farthing Downs, Friends of Grange Park, Friends of Grangewood Park, Friends of Haling Grove, Friends of Heavers Meadow, Friends of Lloyd Park, Friends of Marlpit Lane Bowling Green, Friends of Millers Ponds, Friends of Norbury Hall Park, Friends of Selsdon Woods, Friends of Shirley Windmill, Friends of South Croydon Rec, Friends of South Norwood Country Park, Friends of Spa Wood, Friends of Stambourne Woods, Friends of Wandle Park, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Merton, Sadiq Khan, Southwark Council, Sutton Council, Wandsworth Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cash-strapped council bankrupt of ideas for borough’s parks

Our environment correspondent, PAUL LUSHION, on the council’s latest blatant attempt to off-load its public responsibilities The council has what it calls its “Parks and Green Spaces Renewal Strategy 2022-2025”, which they say outlines “plans to support the borough’s cherished … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Duppas Hill Park, Environment, Friends of Addiscombe Railway Park, Friends of Ashburton Park, Friends of Crystal Palace Park, Friends of Farthing Downs, Friends of Grange Park, Friends of Grangewood Park, Friends of Haling Grove, Friends of Heavers Meadow, Friends of Lloyd Park, Muhammad Ali, Planning, Val Shawcross, Veolia, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Downs friends’ appeal for memorial to volunteer Gill Peachey

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How Coulsdon’s downland oasis is helping to save the planet

NATURE NOTES: The City of London rangers who look after Farthing Downs, Coulsdon Common and other precious green spaces are as hard at work over the bleak midwinter months as the rest of the year, including important projects to unlock … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Croydon parks, Education, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Gardening, History, Nature Notes, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dangerous caterpillar pest closes in on Croydon’s oaks

There have been sightings in Banstead Woods of the oak processionary moth, the extremely destructive moth caterpillars which can strip a tree of its leaves, leaving it weakened, vulnerable, even killing once healthy oak trees. The Forestry Commission has been … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Friends of Lloyd Park, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Take a walk over the downs in Coulsdon with an all-star cast

The Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley have relaunched their nature trail in Coulsdon, with the help of an all-star cast of celebrities. Joanna Lumley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Noddy Holder, Martin Jarvis, Miriam Margolyes, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Robinson and Richard … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Community associations, Coulsdon, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Access all areas at Coulsdon South as £3m bridge is finished

It perhaps lacks some of the quaint charm of Victorian railway architecture, but thanks to its new bridge and lifts, Coulsdon South Station is now fully accessible, as well having had platform edge tactile paving installed. The station has even … Continue reading

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Crime and livestock attacks on Farthing Downs cause concern

Croydon councillors will turn up in Coulsdon this afternoon on the hottest day of the year, maybe the hottest day ever recorded in these islands, to bask in the sun and in the reflected glory of the decades of hard … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Fracking, Friends of Farthing Downs, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Butler in U-turn over parks protection: ‘Nothing to see here’

Alison Butler, the Croydon Council cabinet member responsible for planning, has made a U-turn over the future planning status of the borough’s parks. On Saturday, Inside Croydon reported how the government planning inspector had rejected Croydon Council’s efforts to apply … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon Federation of Allotment and Garden Societies, Croydon parks, Duppas Hill Park, Environment, Friends of Addiscombe Railway Park, Friends of Ashburton Park, Friends of Croham Hurst Woods, Friends of Crystal Palace Park, Friends of Farthing Downs, Friends of Grange Park, Friends of Grangewood Park, Friends of Haling Grove, Friends of Heavers Meadow, Friends of Marlpit Lane Bowling Green, Friends of Millers Ponds, Friends of Selsdon Woods, Friends of Shirley Windmill, Friends of South Norwood Country Park, Friends of Wandle Park, Friends of West Norwood Cemetery, Peter Underwood, Planning, Queens Gardens, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Residents have 48 hours to save 70 parks and open spaces

The people of Croydon have 48 hours left to try to save more than 70 of the borough’s parks and open spaces from being put at serious risk of being handed over to developers to be built on. Alison Butler, … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Duppas Hill Park, Environment, Friends of Addiscombe Railway Park, Friends of Ashburton Park, Friends of Croham Hurst Woods, Friends of Farthing Downs, Friends of Grange Park, Friends of Grangewood Park, Friends of Haling Grove, Friends of Heavers Meadow, Friends of Marlpit Lane Bowling Green, Friends of Millers Ponds, Friends of Selsdon Woods, Friends of South Norwood Country Park, Lloyd Park, Peter Underwood, Planning, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

UnHappy Valley: plans for glamping and festivals at beauty spot

The latest in a series of council consultations about the future of the borough’s parks and open spaces is suggesting that a noted local beauty spot could be handed over to another public body to look after, or that it … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments