Category Archives: Nature Notes

Fire, thunder and ice – real life drama up on Roundshaw Downs

NATURE NOTES: A year-long photo-diary of an area of exceptionally important wildlife habitat on our doorsteps is coming to a close, with nature so far resilient against the impact of the global climate crisis. But for how long? By STEVEN … Continue reading

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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 | 2 Comments

Trust appeals against dumping of pumpkins in the woods

The Woodland Trust has issued a Halloween plea to witches, wizards and spooks everywhere not to endanger wildlife by dumping pumpkins in woodland. The country’s largest woodland conservation charity has noticed Halloween pumpkins being taken to the nearest wood and … Continue reading

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Hosepipe ban ‘in weeks’ as second heat health warning issued

Five more days of 30-degrees-plus temperatures, and with no sign of rain any time soon has seen Thames Water follow other companies in issuing drought notifications The summer-long drought and another heatwave with temperatures over 30 degrees for several days … Continue reading

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An evening stroll to track down one of our rarest butterflies

For our third group visit to local nature reserve Roundshaw Downs, we follow how the changing seasons and long hot summer are affecting the environment and wildlife in our midst. This is your chance to catch-up with Inside Croydon’s unique … Continue reading

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After decades of clean-ups, we’re still polluting precious rivers

CROYDON COMMENTARY: After a week-long heatwave and record temperatures, LEWIS WHITE makes a case for us to cherish local rivers, such as the Wandle, bringing the water companies back into public ownership, and for an end to the concreting over … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon parks, Environment, Nature Notes, Planning, Wandle Park, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Long dry summer has transformed the downs to straw-yellow

NATURE NOTES/JULY 2022: We seem to be racing through summer at speed, with Roundshaw Downs feeling the heat. By STEVEN DOWNES We’d been walking for almost two hours. Dave Warburton, the Sutton biodiversity officer, had been enthusiastically regaling us with … Continue reading

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Sutton Ecology Centre summer activities, from Jul 25

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Springwatch: Join us for our latest guided nature walk, May 21

Make the most of the wonderful natural habitats on your doorstep and join us on Saturday, May 21, for the latest Inside Croydon guided walk. It will be a return visit to local nature reserve Roundshaw Downs, and once again … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Inside Croydon, Nature Notes, Walks, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Walk in the Roundshaw woods and revel in splashes of colour

NATURE NOTES/MAY 2022: Early spring flowers and woodland walks are not-to-be-missed treats. Plus news of the next Inside Croydon guided walk later this month Part of the sheer joy of Roundshaw Downs is its diversity. As wide open and wonderful … Continue reading

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Bumps and ‘bunkers’ to provide new homes for the small blue

NATURE NOTES/MAR 2022: Be careful what you wish for, as the February storms saw nature perform a handbrake turn before the first guided walk of our year-long nature watch project. By STEVEN DOWNES I’d muttered something about wanting the first … Continue reading

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Heard before they’re seen, skylarks soar back over Roundshaw

NATURE NOTES/FEB 2022: Our year-long photostory continues with some welcome arrivals and the first signs of spring. PLUS: Join us for a gentle ramble next month They’re back. I saw my first skylark of 2022 a week earlier. When I … Continue reading

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Up on the Downs, watching for the missing signs of winter

NATURE NOTES/JAN 2022: The green, open spaces on our doorsteps are havens for a rich variety of wildlife. In the first of a year-long series of photostories, STEVEN DOWNES takes you for a walk Phew! What a scorcher! As no … Continue reading

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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

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

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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 , , , , , | 5 Comments

Murdoch the shire horse pulls his weight to help butterflies

Shire horse photographs by ANDREW SMITH Nature conservators were making hay while the sun shined yesterday, with Murdoch the shire horse returning for his now annual visit to Hutchinson’s Bank nature reserve just outside New Addington. As well as providing … Continue reading

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Shire horses called in to help improve butterfly sanctuary

The butterfly conservation project at Hutchinson’s Bank nature reserve is calling up the cavalry later this month. Working shire horses – each weighing upwards of 1 ton – will be visiting the reserve near New Addington on Friday September 25, … Continue reading

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Save the Lapwings walk, Beddington Farmlands, Aug 29

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Plea to council for action as birds slaughtered at nature reserve

Viridor, the operators of the polluting waste incinerator at Beddington Lane, have been accused of allowing an environmental slaughter in the neighbouring wetland nature reserve which they are supposed to manage. Nesting pairs of endangered bird species have been disturbed … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Jayne McCoy, Peter Alfrey, Refuse collection, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Guided Winter Walk, Hutchinson’s Bank New Addington, Jan 11

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Beddington Farmlands come alive as wildlife winter wonderland

The cold fingers of winter might be touching us as we head into November, but as local naturalist PETER ALFREY observes, the wildlife sanctuary at Beddington Farmlands is full of life Following lots of rain and the recent habitat improvements … Continue reading

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Beddington Farmlands council demonstration, Sutton, Oct 8

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SPECIAL OFFER: Take a walk on the wild side with Peter Alfrey

Inside Croydon is delighted to team up with noted local conservationist Peter Alfrey for our next guided walk, a midsummer wildlife ramble, on the morning of Sunday, June 23. We will spend a couple of hours exploring one of the … Continue reading

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Bird-watchers are on the look-out in annual species count

JOHN BIRKETT, of the RSPB Croydon group, spotted his first swallow of the summer at the weekend. He’s now preparing himself for a very long day on Thursday. Here, he explains why. Photos by JOHN FLYNN This month sees the … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Croydon parks, Environment, Lloyd Park, Nature Notes, Wandle Park, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment