A section of South Norwood Country Park, one of the largest green spaces in Greater London

Park Hill Recreation Ground, an example of an urban park in Croydon

Queen's Gardens urban parkland area in Central Croydon

The London Borough of Croydon has over 120 parks and open spaces within its boundaries, ranging from the 200 acre (80ha) Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve to many recreation grounds and sports fields scattered throughout the Borough. South Norwood Country Park is a park in South Norwood, close to Elmers End station, mainly in the London Borough of Croydon. Park Hill Recreation Ground is a large park area located in the heart of East Croydon, London. The London Borough of Croydon ( is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. Selsdon Wood is a woodland area located in the London Borough of Croydon. nature reserve ( natural reserve, nature preserve, natural preserve) is a Protected area of importance for Wildlife, flora Croydon covers an area of 86. 52 km², the 256th largest district in England. This is a list of Districts of England ordered by area. The areas given are calculated from the Output Areas created for Census 2001 and made available Croydon's physical features consist of many hills and rivers that are spread out across the borough and into the North Downs, Surrey and the rest of South London. The North Downs are a ridge of Chalk hills in south east England that stretch for 120 miles (190 km from Farnham in Surrey to the White Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. Some of the open spaces in Croydon form part of the well-known London LOOP walks where the first section was opened on May 3, 1996, with a ceremony on Farthing Downs in Coulsdon. The London Outer Orbital Path &mdash more usually the "London LOOP" &mdash is a 240 km (150 mile signed walk along public footpaths and through parks Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Coulsdon is a town in the London Borough of Croydon on the Brighton Road ( A23) As a borough in Outer London it also contains some open countryside in the form of country parks. Croydon Council is associated with several other boroughs who are taking part in the Downlands Countryside Management Project. The Downlands Countryside Management Project established in 1988 is a partnership between six London and Surrey local authorities set up to manage an area of countryside These boroughs are Sutton; and by Surrey County Council; the City of London Corporation; the Surrey districts of Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge; and the Countryside Agency. The London Borough of Sutton ( is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Outer London. Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The City of London Corporation (formerly known as the Corporation of London)is the municipal governing body of the City of London. Locations within the Borough Banstead, Burgh Heath Chipstead Earlswood Hooley Civil parishes These are Bletchingley Burstow Caterham on the Hill Caterham Valley The Countryside Agency in England was a statutory body set up in 1999 with the task of improving the quality of the rural environment and the lives of those living An additional partner is Natural Britain. ^[1]

Duppas Hill was Croydon's first public recreation ground, bought by the Board of Health in 1865. Duppas Hill is a park road and surrounding residential area in Waddon, near Croydon in Greater London (and historically in Surrey) Addington Hills is a major floodplain in London for the Thames Valley and is recognised as a significant obstacle to the growth of London from its origins as a port on the north side of the river, to a large circular city. Addington Hills is a park located in Upper Shirley, London, England. ||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||}A floodplain, or flood plain, is flat or nearly flat land adjacent to a Stream or River that experiences occasional or periodic The Thames Valley generally implies the region that drains into the River Thames (the Thames catchment) from west of Cirencester to London Mitcham Common also forms part of the borough although it is only partly in Croydon, the London Borough of Merton has the dominant half of the common, while Sutton make up most of the south side. Mitcham Common is an area of common land situated in South London. The London Borough of Merton ( is a London borough in south west London. The London Borough of Sutton ( is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Outer London.

The Queen's Gardens, Park Hill and Norwood Grove are examples of ornamental gardens in the Borough. The Queen's Gardens are a small area of urban gardens in the centre of Croydon, South London. Park Hill Recreation Ground is a large park area located in the heart of East Croydon, London.

There are also many recreation grounds such as the one in South Norwood which is currently undergoing major refurbishment works. South Norwood Recreation Ground is a park located in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon. Examples of meadows include Heavers Meadow and Brickfields Meadow both located in South Norwood. Heavers Meadow is a meadow located in South Norwood and Selhurst in the London Borough of Croydon. Brickfields Meadow is a meadow in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon. South Norwood is a urban town and ward within the Greater London boundaries in Croydon, England.

History

The Great North Wood was a natural oak forest that covered the Sydenham Ridge and the southern reaches of the River Effra and its tributaries. The Great North Wood was a natural oak forest that covered most of the area of raised ground starting some four miles (6 km south of central London, covering the Sydenham Sydenham is a place and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park and Penge are outside the ward The River Effra is a river in south London, England. It is now underground It is a major part of the history of Croydon. The most notable tree, called Vicar's Oak, marked the boundary of four ancient parishes; Lambeth, Camberwell, Croydon and Bromley. Lambeth is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth, although the area is now more commonly known as Waterloo, after the railway station whose viaduct separates the Camberwell is a district of London, England and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. About the town The town has a large shopping and retail area including a pedestrianised High Street and The Glades shopping centre John Aubrey^[2] referred to this "ancient remarkable tree" in the past tense as early as 1718, but according to JB Wilson,^[3] the Vicar's Oak survived until 1825. The earliest surviving mention of the wood dates from assize records in 1272, and it was known to be owned by the Whitehorse family during the reign of King Edward III. The Court of Assize, or Assizes, is a medieval term for Legal codes (such as Assizes of Jerusalem) that continues to be used in modern times Edward III (13 November 1312 &ndash 21 June 1377 was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. When Oliver Cromwell seized it from the Archbishop of Canterbury it was measured to cover 830 acres (3. Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 Old Style &ndash 3 September 1658 Old Style) was an English military and political leader best known The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the 4 km²), but held only 9,200 oaken pollards. At this time it was known to stretch as far as Stretham from Croydon. Much timber was taken from the woodlands for use in the Royal Dockyard at Deptford as well for charcoal burning and building purposes. Deptford is an area on the south bank of the River Thames in south-east London. Charcoal' is the blackish residue consisting of impure Carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from Animal and Vegetation Much of the surviving woodlands were cleared and developed as a result of the 1797 Croydon Inclosure Act and sale of the late Lord Thurlow's estates in 1806, although some substantial fragments remain, notably the nature reserves at Dulwich Wood and Sydenham Hill Wood. The Inclosure Acts were a series of United Kingdom Acts of Parliament which enclosed open fields and Common land in the country Baron Thurlow, of Thurlow in the County of Suffolk is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. Dulwich Wood together with the adjacent Sydenham Hill Wood, forms the largest remaining tract of the ancient Great North Wood which once stretched from Deptford The nine- Hectare Sydenham Hill Wood, situated on the clay ridge that stretches between Deptford, Streatham and Selhurst and in

Principal open spaces

Apart from smaller green areas such as sports grounds and smaller gardens, and Selsdon Wood, which is National Trust property, the following are the major open spaces in the Borough:

Croydon North

• South Norwood Country Park, South Norwood : former sewage farm, 125 acres (50ha)
• South Norwood Lake and Grounds, South Norwood : large lake land and green space area, 28 acres (11ha)

Croydon Central

• Lloyd Park, Croydon : founded by Frank Lloyd, 114 acres (46ha)
• Addington Hills, Addington : also named Shirley Hills
• Queen's Gardens, Central Croydon : urban park next to the Croydon Clocktower
• Duppas Hill, Waddon : also named Shirley Hills
• Addington Vale, Addington : former green belt land, public open space in 1963, 48 acres (19ha)
• Mitcham Common, Merton : area of large common land, 460 acres (182ha)
• Millstock, Hooley : "pass" of North Downs lowest for several kilometers, 60 acres (23ha)
• Purley Way Playing Fields, Waddon : large green space next to the Croydon Colonnades, 109 acres (43. Selsdon Wood is a woodland area located in the London Borough of Croydon. The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organization in England, Wales South Norwood Country Park is a park in South Norwood, close to Elmers End station, mainly in the London Borough of Croydon. South Norwood is a urban town and ward within the Greater London boundaries in Croydon, England. South Norwood Lake and Grounds is a park in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon. South Norwood is a urban town and ward within the Greater London boundaries in Croydon, England. Croydon is a large town and major commercial centre in South London, and the principal settlement of the London Borough of Croydon. Addington Hills is a park located in Upper Shirley, London, England. Addington is a village in south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. The Queen's Gardens are a small area of urban gardens in the centre of Croydon, South London. Croydon is a large town and major commercial centre in South London, and the principal settlement of the London Borough of Croydon. Croydon Clocktower on Katharine Street in Central Croydon is an arts centre in Croydon, London, England. Duppas Hill is a park road and surrounding residential area in Waddon, near Croydon in Greater London (and historically in Surrey) Waddon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, to the south west of central Croydon on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton. Addington Vale is a park situated in New Addington in the London Borough of Croydon. Addington is a village in south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. Mitcham Common is an area of common land situated in South London. The London Borough of Merton ( is a London borough in south west London. Common land (a common) is a piece of land owned by one person but over which other people can exercise certain traditional rights such as allowing their livestock to graze Hooley is a small Village in Surrey, England. It lies in a " pass " which is the lowest crossing point of the North Downs In a range of hills or especially of mountains, a pass (also gap, notch, col, saddle, bwlch, The North Downs are a ridge of Chalk hills in south east England that stretch for 120 miles (190 km from Farnham in Surrey to the White Waddon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, to the south west of central Croydon on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton. The Colonnades Leisure Park (also known as Croydon Colonnades) is an out-of-town leisure park located in the Purley Way retail and industrial district of the 81ha)

Croydon South

• Happy Valley, Old Coulsdon : countryside area, 252 acres (101ha)
• Farthing Downs, Coulsdon : another countryside area in the borough, notable for its walking trails^[4]
• Foxley Wood, Purley : An ancient urban woodland with Nature Reserve status noted for it's diversity of flora and wildlife encompassed in an urban location featuring a nature trail. Old Coulsdon is a small village near Coulsdon in London, United Kingdom and part of the London Borough of Croydon. Coulsdon is a town in the London Borough of Croydon on the Brighton Road ( A23) The Friends of Foxley in association with London Borough of Croydon manage the woodland. The London Borough of Croydon ( is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. [1]

Water

The River Wandle is also a major tributary of the River Thames, where it stretches to Wandsworth and Putney for 9 miles (14 km) from its main source in Waddon. The River Wandle is a River in southeast England. It runs through southwest London and is approximately 9 miles (14 km long The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England. This article refers only to the town of Wandsworth For the wider area generally referred to as Wandsworth see the separate article on London Borough of Wandsworth. Putney is a district of south-west London in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Waddon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, to the south west of central Croydon on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton. It forms a rough western boundary with the London Borough of Sutton, and for part of its length forms the boundary between the London Boroughs of Croydon and Lambeth The main river ends at Waddon with one of its tributaries ending in Selhurst. The London Borough of Sutton ( is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Outer London. The London Borough of Lambeth ( is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Inner London. Waddon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, to the south west of central Croydon on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton. Selhurst is a suburban development in the London Borough of Croydon south-south-east of Charing Cross. Another tributary starts in Thornton Heath as the Norbury Brook, becomes the River Graveney and joins the Wandle near Summerstown. A tributary is a Stream or River which flows into a mainstem (or parent river Thornton Heath is a district in the London Borough of Croydon, 7 A tributary of the River Wandle, Norbury Brook rises near Lower Addiscombe Road and flows north-west through Selhurst, Thornton Heath and Norbury The River Wandle is a River in southeast England. It runs through southwest London and is approximately 9 miles (14 km long

Climate

The amount of green spaces in area can affect the climate of that particular area. Croydon has a temperate climate in common with most areas of Great Britain, it is similar to that of Greenwich in Inner London: its Koppen climate classification is Cfb. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Greenwich ( ˈɡrɛnɪtʃ GREN-itch /ˈɡrɛnɪdʒ/ GREN-idge or /ˈɡrɪnɪdʒ/ GRIN-idge is a district in south-east London, Inner London is the name for the group of London boroughs which form the interior part of Greater London and are surrounded by Outer London. The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist ^[5][6] Its mean annual temperature of 9. 6 °C is similar to that experienced throughout the Weald, and slightly cooler than nearby areas such as the Sussex coast and Central London. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. ^[7] Rainfall is considerably below England's average (1971–2000) level of 838 mm, and every month is drier overall than the England average. ^[8]

See also

• List of parks and open spaces in Croydon
• Parks and open spaces in London

Further reading

• (1997) Hidden History in Croydon's Parks, Croydon Council

References

External links

• Croydon parks and open spaces