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Tag Archives: Happy Valley
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
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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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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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
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
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
MP backs call to extend Surrey Hills beauty area into Croydon
A Croydon MP says that residents have a “fantastic opportunity” to take part in a public consultation which could see parts of his constituency, such as Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, Coulsdon Common and Rddlesdown, added to an Area of … Continue reading
Posted in Chris Philp MP, City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Croydon South, Environment, Planning, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife
Tagged Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Croydon, Farthing Downs, Happy Valley, Natural England, Riddlesdown, Surrey Hills AONB
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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 Brian Hope-Taylor, City Commons, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Common, Farthing Downs, Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, Happy Valley
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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
Take a walk over the downs in Coulsdon with an all-star cast
The Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley have relaunched their nature trail in Coulsdon, with the help of an all-star cast of celebrities. Joanna Lumley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Noddy Holder, Martin Jarvis, Miriam Margolyes, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Robinson and Richard … Continue reading
Posted in City Commons, Community associations, Coulsdon, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife
Tagged Benjamin Zephaniah, Coulsdon, Farthing Downs, Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley, Happy Valley, Joanna Lumley, Martin Jarvis, Miriam Margolyes, Noddy Holder
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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
Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife
Tagged City Commons, Coulsdon, Farthing Downs, Happy Valley
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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
Posted in City Commons, Environment, Wildlife
Tagged Ashtead Common, City Commons, Farthing Downs, Happy Valley
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Croydon’s oldest society is walking and talking towards 150
As it approaches its own historical milestone next year, when it will celebrate its 150th anniversary, the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society is stepping out on another series of fascinating walks and talks exploring the wonders around us. Originally … Continue reading
