Category Archives: Wildlife

Sutton’s ex-leader in extraordinary attack on waste company

Valencia Waste Management, owners of Beddington Farmlands former landfill site, are ‘arrogant’ and have no intention of carrying out agreed wildlife restoration, according to LibDem councillor Ruth Dombey A multi-million-pound waste management firm is “running rings” around Sutton Council as … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Environment, Helen Bailey, London-wide issues, Ruth Dombey, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrate tree-planting at Ashburton Playing Fields on Saturday

Trees for Cities will be staging a community tree-planting day with a range of family-friendly activities in Ashburton Playing Fields this Saturday. “These trees will complement the existing habitat features on site, provide additional shade and enhance biodiversity,” they say. … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Addiscombe East, Ashburton, Croydon parks, Environment, Wildlife | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Dr Warder’s book The True Amazons made him the bee’s knees

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: This week’s research took DAVID MORGAN back to the turn of the 18th Century and a Croydon physician whose detailed studies revolutionised what we know about bee colonies and honey production A book written nearly 400 years ago … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Minster, David Morgan, Gardening, History, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Football club delays its kick-off for a hedgehog pitch invader

Last night’s AFC Croydon Athletic under-18s game against Corinthian Casuals at Mayfield Stadium was forced to delay its kick-off – there was a hedgehog on the pitch! The Mayfield at Thornton Heath is surrounded by open ground, havens for wildlife, … Continue reading

Posted in AFC Croydon Athletic, Football, Gardening, Thornton Heath, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Get stars in your eyes on our next Croydon ramble, Nov 17

For our next Inside Croydon guided walk, we are returning to a route first checked out by KEN TOWL seven years ago – a short, sociable autumn stroll up a hill and through the woods and meadows passing Kenley aerodrome … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Croydon parks, Environment, Inside Croydon, Ken Towl, Walks, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

RSPCA is recruiting volunteers to aid wildlife this autumn

The RSPCA wants nature lovers to embrace the call of the autumn and sign up to be a Wildlife Friend. The scheme invites volunteers to take on tasks out in the open, whether in parks or open spaces, in their … Continue reading

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Council failed to apply for HMO licence for Heathfield House

CROYDON IN CRISIS:  The conversion of a council-owned, listed Victorian villa on Gravel Hill into a ‘house of multiple occupation’ was done without any licence application and without planning permission. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Heathfield House, the council-owned listed building … Continue reading

Posted in Addington, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Gardening, Heathfield House, History, Property, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Friends of Foxley Autumn Fruits and Funghu Foray, Nov 1

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Long-neglected Heathfield House being rented out as 17 rooms

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Unable to find an approved bidder or use for the Grade II-listed building, the cash-strapped council has got agents to rent out single rooms to ‘guardians’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Listed building Heathfield House is being rented … Continue reading

Posted in Addington, Art, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Gardening, Heathfield House, History, Property, Riesco Collection, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

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

Snakes alive! Python spotted slithering across Portnalls Road

There was much concern expressed on social media over the weekend when a large-ish sized snake was spotted slithering across the footpath on Portnalls Road in Coulsdon. “Was just on a walk and saw a snake roaming the streets,” reported … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Environment, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Mitcham Common walk – uses of local plants, July 10

Posted in Education, Environment, Nature Notes, Walks, Wildlife | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Rivers Week organisers call for urgent action on London floods

London urgently needs to become a “sponge city” – better designed to absorb and hold rainwater – in order to deal with the potentially catastrophic impact of the climate emergency. That’s according to the organisers of London Rivers Week, which … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Charity, Community associations, Environment, Wandle Park, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bourne again: how Carshalton Park is providing an overflow

Where does all that rainwater go from one of the wettest years on record? Well, in the catchment area of the River Wandle, as ANDREW FORD, left, has discovered, it has been taking up quite a bit of Carshalton Park … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Environment, History, Kenley, Purley, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Join us for a six-mile guided ramble along the Vanguard Way

Become a Vanguard with Inside Croydon and walk into summer with a guided six-mile ramble. Inside Croydon’s guided walks around the outskirts of London offer our loyal readers a chance to find out more about the area, their environment, history … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Croydon parks, Environment, Inside Croydon, Lloyd Park, Walks, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bat Walks, South Norwood Country Park, from May 25

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of South Norwood Country Park, South Norwood, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Beddington’s wildlife plan has ‘failed’ say environmentalists

After 10 years of broken promises and delays, a local council has bowed to the interests of big business, at the expense of the environment and local residents. By our wildlife correspondent, PAUL LUSHION Sutton’s Liberal Democrat-controlled council and their … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, London-wide issues, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

London Zoo wants your help to mark 200 years of history

London Zoo wants your help to mark its 200th birthday, coming up in 2026. Perhaps you have some old photographs of a childhood visit to the zoo, or to its country outpost, Whipsnade? Maybe you had a grandparent, or great … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Charity, Education, Environment, History, London-wide issues, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sharkey among guests as River Summit comes to the Wandle

Feargal Sharkey, a leader in the national debate about the parlous quality of water in the country’s rivers, lakes and canals, is among the participants at the 2024 UK River Summit which is being held along the banks of the … Continue reading

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Perry’s porkie pies: Mayor finally admits to his golfing links

After a private golf club held ‘consultation’ meetings with SIX residents’ associations, Jason Perry has been forced to make a U-turn and contradict his previous statements while giving an undertaking not to allow any development on Shirley Heath and Addington … Continue reading

Posted in Addington, Addington Hills, Addington Residents' Association, Business, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Golf, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Property, Shirley Heath, Shirley South, Sport, The Addington GC, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Chamber Mead wetlands promise fresh flow to the Hogsmill

The South East Rivers Trust is inviting local residents to come and celebrate the newly-created Chamber Mead wetlands with a day of family fun, activities and guided tours. The celebration day on Saturday April 20 will give nature lovers the … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Environment, Epsom and Ewell, Kingston, Outside Croydon, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mayor Perry is caught in a ‘bad lie’ over Addington golf talks

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council’s Bertie Wooster-like leader has got himself into a tangle over talks with an exclusive private members’ club over plans to develop a tract of protected public land. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Mayor Jason Perry’s Conservative-run council … Continue reading

Posted in Addington, Addington Hills, Addington Residents' Association, Business, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Golf, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Property, Shirley Heath, Shirley South, Sport, Stuart King, The Addington GC, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tory councillor signs petition opposing Shirley Heath land grab

Conservative councillor Jason Cummings last night joined more than 4,400 others in signing the petition that calls on the Mayor of Croydon to refuse to allow public open space at Shirley Heath and Addington Hills to be developed by The … Continue reading

Posted in Addington, Addington Hills, Addington Residents' Association, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Golf, Jason Cummings, Peter Underwood, Planning, Property, Shirley Heath, Shirley South, Sport, Stuart Collins, The Addington GC, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Sign the petition today to save Shirley Heath for the public

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Our exclusive news report yesterday of a bid by one of the country’s best-known golf clubs to take over public land from the council has been greeted with widespread disgust. Here, PETER UNDERWOOD, local conservationist and Green Party … Continue reading

Posted in Addington, Addington Hills, Addington Residents' Association, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Golf, Peter Underwood, Property, Selsdon and Addington Village, Shirley Heath, Sport, The Addington GC, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments