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Category Archives: City Commons
Rangers in public plea for care during skylarks’ nesting season
City Commons, who oversee four commons and the South London National Nature Reserve, are now having to deal with dumped garden waste in conservation areas. PLUS: dates for guided walks and volunteer sessions The rangers who oversee Coulsdon Common, Farthing … Continue reading
Inspired by Attenborough, now Zoom in on some wild talks
NATURE NOTES: The London Wildlife Trust and the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society have activities available – free of charge – for people to find out more about the wildlife in our city Peregrines and foxes, hedgehogs and parakeets … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, City Commons, Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society, Croydon parks, Environment, Nature Notes, Wildlife
Tagged Attenborough, BBC, CNH&SS, Croydon, Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society, David Attenborough, Hedgehogs, Hutchinson's Bank, London, London Wildlife Trust, Roundshaw Downs, Sir David Attenborough, Sussex cattle, Wild London
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Step into autumn on a guided tour with Coulsdon’s fun guys
The City Commons rangers, who help to care for large areas of open space in the south of the borough, are well-respected as fun guys to deal with. And over the next few weeks, they will demonstrate as much with … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Kenley, Old Coulsdon, Wildlife
Tagged Autumn, City Commons, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Fungi, Fungi forays, Kenley Common, Riddlesdown
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London on amber alert as heatwave risks wildfires and deaths
An amber heat health warning is in place for London from today until 6pm on tomorrow, as temperatures soar above 30°C in the capital’s fourth heatwave of this summer. Temperatures in London reached 31.9°C yesterday, and are forecast to touch … Continue reading
Fire Brigade issues urgent wild fires warning across London
The London Fire Brigade has issued an urgent warning to the public of a “severe risk of wildfires” ahead of this weekend’s heatwave. London and the south-east of England have endured drought-like conditions with unusually low rainfall since March, while … Continue reading
City Commons staging ‘Meet the Calves’ open day, Sun Mar 23
The City Commons rangers are opening up their yard on Coulsdon Common on Sunday March 23 to “Meet the Calves”, this year’s additions to the herd of Sussex cattle that grazes Farthing Downs and the local commons. “This is the … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, City Commons, Coulsdon, Environment, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife
Tagged City Commons, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Sussex cattle
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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 City Commons, City of London, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, GPS, Happy Valley, Kenley, Kenley Common, No-fence technology, Riddlesdown, Sussex cattle
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Coulsdon finial gives ‘Puff-puff’ Pirie a proper podium finish
Finally, the lovely people who manage the Croydon Art Trail have managed to get Gordon Pirie across their finishing line. Pirie was one of Britain’s greatest sports stars of the mid-20th Century, the distance runner winning an Olympic silver medal … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Athletics, City Commons, Community associations, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Croydon parks, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, History, South London Harriers, Sport
Tagged "Gentleman" John Jackson, 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Charles King, Comrades Club, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Club, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, ECRA, Emil Zatopek, Farthing Downs, Gordon Pirie, Happy Valley, Highwayman, James Cooper, KIng George IV, South London Harriers, Vladimir Kuts
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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 City Commons, City of London Corporation, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Epping Forest, Farthing Downs, Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, Hampstead Heath, Happy Valley, Kenley Common, Old Coulsdon, Riddlesdown, South London Downs, World Urban Parks Legacy Award
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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 Conservative, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Croydon, Croydon Council, Farthing Downs, Happy Valley, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Parks and open spaces, Riddlesdown, Tory
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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
Bumper berry crop could save wildlife from winter storms
A bumper crop of hawthorn berries – reckoned to be the biggest since records began 20 years ago – is bringing a big boost for wildlife across Croydon’s commons and open spaces. Hedgerows and woodland across the nation are awash … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Croydon parks, Environment, Nature Notes, Wildlife
Tagged City Commons, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Redwing, Roundshaw Downs, RSPB, Wildlife Trust
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Battle lines drawn over proposal for 87 houses on RAF Kenley
Residents in Kenley, Old Coulsdon and nearby Caterham have been expressing deep concern about proposals to build 87 “barrack-style” houses on part of what used to be RAF Kenley. The planning application has been lodged with Tandridge District Council for … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Caterham, City Commons, Coulsdon, Environment, History, Housing, Kenley, Kenley Airfield Friends Group, Old Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Planning, Property, Surrey, Tandridge District Council
Tagged Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon and District Education Trust, Croydon Council, Kenley, Kenley aerodrome, Kenley Airfield, London Borough of Croydon, Planning, RAF Kenley, Surrey County Council, Tandridge, Tandridge District Council, Warlingham
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Join us and Croydon Ramblers for 5-mile tour of New Hill
Inside Croydon is delighted to announce that it is joining forces with the local branch of the Ramblers’ Association to take part in an invigorating amble around New Hill, Driftway and Netherne. The walk on Sunday, November 12 (which this … Continue reading
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 South, 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
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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
