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Tag Archives: Farthing Downs
Coulsdon Fox hunt as pub company makes a dash for Surrey
Is Croydon’s reputation now so bad that businesses that have been based here for many years don’t want to be associated with the borough? The ‘relocating’ of one old pub, being run by a ‘Mayor of Croydon’, could cause ULEZ … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon, Pubs, ULEZ expansion
Tagged Beer, City of London Corporation, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, Happy Valley, London LOOP, Mitchell and Butlers, Old Coulsdon, Rambling, The Fox, The Fox Coulsdon, Vintage Inns, Walks
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Coulsdon finial celebrates the navvies who built the railway
With the Brighton main line effectively out of service between Croydon and Gatwick over the next three weekends, our gratitude for the amenity that the railway line provides ought to be a touch improved. You never appreciate what you have … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Community associations, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, History, Transport
Tagged Charles King, Comrades Club, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Club, Coulsdon History Trail, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, ECRA, Farthing Downs, Finials, Happy Valley, Mammoth, Merstham Tunnel, Navvies, Stoats Nest Farm
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Coulsdon trail recalls era when mammoths roamed the hills
There was a time, about 20,000 years ago, when in the area where today a few cattle graze on Farthing Downs and Coulsdon locals take their pet pooches for a daily walk, there roamed across the land 15-foot-tall giants, the … Continue reading
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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Happy Valley runners are now out and about every Friday
If you were inspired by last week’s London Marathon (and with 1.1million people registering in hope of running the 2026 race, there’s a good chance that you were), then a new group called Run Talk Run Coulsdon might be just … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, Athletics, Coulsdon, Pubs
Tagged Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Happy Valley, Run Talk Run Coulsdon, The Fox, The Fox Coulsdon
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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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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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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
Downland summer 10kms, Coulsdon, May 25, Jun 29, Jul 27
Posted in Athletics, Coulsdon, South London Harriers, Sport
Tagged Coulsdon, Farthing Downs, SLH, South London Harriers
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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
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
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
