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Category Archives: City Commons
Fire Brigade at the ready as risk of grass fires rises in the heat
Firefighters are asking people to follow safety advice as the hot weather continues, with forecast temperatures above 30⁰C. This follows an Amber heat-health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency, which asks people to check on older family members, … Continue reading
Kenley Common’s ranger finding ways to save hedgehogs
Volunteering days across Coulsdon Common and Farthing Downs, and a special summer holiday forest adventure for children are among the activities coming up The City Commons ranger at Kenley Common has been working on a project this summer to help … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Croydon parks, Environment, Gardening, Wildlife
Tagged City Commons, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Hedgehogs, Kenley Common
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Only one of Croydon’s 120 parks achieves Green Flag status
This, in case you didn’t already know, is Love Parks Week. In Croydon under Conservative Mayor Jason Perry, it seems, we don’t love our parks very much. Croydon has more than 120 parks and open spaces within its boundaries, ranging … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Wandle Park, Hutchinson's Bank, Mayor Jason Perry, Norwood Grove, Park Hill Recreation Ground, Wandle Park
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Friends of Wandle Park, Heathfield House, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Norwood Grove, Tory, Wandle Park
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Coulsdon’s precious commons maintain their Green Flag status
City Commons, the Corporation of London team which manages the open spaces at Farthing Downs, Riddlesdown, Kenley Common and Coulsdon Common, have been successful in maintaining their important Green Flag and Green Heritage award status. The scheme is an international … Continue reading
Area of outstanding natural beauty could include… Croydon
Proposals are out for consultation to extend the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by almost 25,000 acres – and include Happy Valley and Farthing Downs in Croydon. AONBs represent some of England’s most treasured landscapes, whose unique qualities … Continue reading
Fatal dog attack prompts council to review licensing scheme
A week after the horrific death of a dog walker at a beauty spot near Caterham, the police are yet to name the victim, or to release any of the eight dogs that they seized following what was reported to … Continue reading
Posted in Business, City Commons, Coulsdon, Crime, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Lloyd Park, London-wide issues, New Addington, Policing, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Selsdon and Addington Village, South Croydon
Tagged Caterham, dog attack, dog walkers, Lloyd Park, New Addington, Selsdon Woods, Surrey, Surrey Police, Wallington
4 Comments
Firefighters stage a cliff-hanger to save Gandalf the goat
Firefighters using a drone rescued a goat that was stranded more than 100 feet up on a cliff edge at the disused Riddlesdown quarry. The usually sure-footed goat, named Gandalf by City Commons rangers, found itself in trouble after becoming … Continue reading
Riddlesdown goat dies after vicious attack by off-lead dog
Just a few weeks after the City Commons rangers released a flock of six goats to graze the rocky quarry at Riddlesdown, one of the animals has had to be put to sleep by vets, after it had been savaged … Continue reading
Take a walk on the wild side with fungal foray in the woods
NATURE NOTES: Loyal reader ANTHONY MILLS takes a walk on the wild side – or what he calls a ‘fungal foray’ – with the City Commons Rangers through Croydon’s autumn woodland A fungal foray at Riddlesdown, part of the City … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Nature Notes, Wildlife
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Riddlesdown’s rangers have some new kids on the block
The annual visit of a herd of goats at Riddlesdown Common saw half a dozen nannies released last week to graze the steep slopes of the old quarry. “The quarry is an amazing habitat with chalk wildflowers, reptiles and butterflies … Continue reading
Arrival of wheatears and whinchats mark the end of the summer
The weather has turned. And the City Commons Rangers have begun to notice the difference in the wild birds arriving on Farthing Downs, and noted in their latest newsletter. September signifies a change in birdlife with many species on the … Continue reading
Magnificent seven: City Commons celebrate Green Flag awards
Coulsdon Common, Kenley Common, Farthing Downs and Riddlesdown are among seven open space areas in and around Croydon that are managed by the City of London Corporation and which have won Green Flag status again this year. The City Commons … Continue reading
MP backs call to extend Surrey Hills beauty area into Croydon
A Croydon MP says that residents have a “fantastic opportunity” to take part in a public consultation which could see parts of his constituency, such as Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, Coulsdon Common and Rddlesdown, added to an Area of … Continue reading
Posted in Chris Philp MP, City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Croydon South, Environment, Planning, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife
Tagged Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Croydon, Farthing Downs, Happy Valley, Natural England, Riddlesdown, Surrey Hills AONB
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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 Brian Hope-Taylor, City Commons, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, Happy Valley
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There’s mushrooming interest in wildlife on local commons
NATURE NOTES: Winter visitors are eagerly awaited, while City Commons’ guided walks made some fascinating discoveries Winter birds, including redwing and fieldfare, are expected to start arriving on the green spaces in and around Farthing Downs, Coulsdon. These visitors fly … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Environment, Nature Notes
Tagged City Commons, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Kenley Common, Riddlesdown
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Help the Commons rangers plan for 10 more years of care
City Commons, the organisation operated by the City of London which manages a selection of green spaces in and around Croydon, is preparing its 10-year management plans, and is seeking input from the public which might influence how it approaches … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, City Commons, Croydon parks, Environment, Wildlife
Tagged City Commons, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Kenley Common, Riddlesdown
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City Commons’ work recognised with 7 Green Flag awards
Seven green spaces in and around Croydon which are protected by the City of London Corporation have been granted prestigious Green Flag status. Coulsdon Common, Kenley Common, Farthing Downs and Riddlesdown, plus Spring Park and West Wickham Common in Bromley … Continue reading
Goats settle in for their winter’s work at Riddlesdown Quarry
There are goats in Croydon. No kidding. That was the announcement made by City Commons yesterday, as goats were turned out to graze at Riddlesdown Quarry. City Commons is the part of the City of London Corporation which manages large … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Kenley, Nature Notes, New Addington, Old Coulsdon, Purley, Sanderstead, South London Downs NNR, Whitgift Foundation, Wildlife
Tagged City Commons, Downlands Trust, Riddlesdown, Riddlesdown Common, Riddlesdown Quarry, South London Downs
5 Comments
Eight walks to encompass Croydon’s boundaries and history
Over the course of lockdown, one intrepid geographer has managed to complete the ‘beating of the bounds’ and discover the fascinating history of our parish and civic boundaries, stretching back to Saxon times. Words, pictures and mapping by Dr BEN … Continue reading
Posted in Addington, Church and religions, City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, History, New Addington, Purley, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Sanderstead, Selsdon & Ballards, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, Surrey, Tandridge District Council, Walks
Tagged Addington, Beddington, Ben Clifford, Chipstead, Coulsdon, Farleigh, Sanderstead, Selsdon, Woodmansterne
12 Comments
Charges to be introduced for car parking at Farthing Downs
Parking charges are to be introduced on Farthing Downs by the City of London Corporation. Through City Commons, the Corporation manages seven commons and open spaces across Croydon and south London, including large tracts of the new South London Downs … Continue reading
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 Benjamin Zephaniah, Coulsdon, Farthing Downs, Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, Happy Valley, Joanna Lumley, Martin Jarvis, Miriam Margolyes, Noddy Holder
2 Comments
Commons rangers get ‘kick in the teeth’ from costly vandalism
Rangers and volunteers who work hard year-round to maintain and enhance the ecology of the downland around Coulsdon have been rocked this week by vandalism at Farthing Downs, which is likely to cost thousands of pounds from an already stretched … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Environment, Wildlife
Tagged City Commons, Coulsdon, Farthing Downs
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