Tag Archives: City Commons

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

Posted in City Commons, Croydon parks, Environment, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in City Commons, Croydon parks, Environment, Kenley, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Walks, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

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

Posted in City Commons, Environment, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

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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

Posted in Charity, City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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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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

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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

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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

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

Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Environment, Parking, South London Downs NNR | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

City Commons Meet The Calves day, Coulsdon, Mar 28

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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

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City Commons Winter Tree workshop, Coulsdon, Feb 13

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Here is the moos: Farthing Downs calves are growing up fast

Looking for some peace and quiet? You may want to give Farthing Downs a wide berth for a few days. City Commons, the custodians of much of the downland around the south of the borough, felt the need to explain … Continue reading

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City Commons find there’s plenty of life in their old trees yet

The rangers and staff at City Commons, who work on many of the open spaces and pieces of common land in and around Croydon, are celebrating a significant development in their work, with the sighting of a rare moth following … 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

National Reserve status granted for Coulsdon’s Farthing Downs

Croydon will get its own National Nature Reserve later this month, as more than 1,000 acres of chalk downland across Riddlesdown, Farthing Downs, Happy Valley, through to Kenley Common, Sanderstead and Whyteleafe will be formally declared by Natural England as … Continue reading

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South London Downs Discovery Day, Farthing Downs, Jul 25

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City Commons: Art on the common, West Wickham, Jul 14

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Quarry in bloom guided walk, Riddlesdown, Jul 13

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Butterfly Walks, Kenley, Coulsdon and Riddlesdown, Jul-Aug

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Breakfast With The Birds, Coulsdon Common, May 4

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Ranger-guided Bat Walk, West Wickham Common, Apr 26

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Breakfast With The Birds, Riddlesdown, Apr 20

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