Some fine weather had us hungry for nature in late March, and luckily the London Wildlife Trust has a bountiful collection in South Croydon. Yes, we kid you not. The borough of IKEA and insurance companies has beauties beyond your imagining, so check out this little trip and discover just a couple of them.
We start at Bramley Bank’s Riesco Drive entrance (named after the family which owned the Estate there in the late 1800s), having run through the equally lovely Addington Hills to get there (check out our video here). This peaceful reserve includes 27.1 acres of oak and ash woodland, a large pond and is a haven for birds and butterflies. It’s great for Bluebells in May too, we hear.
We wend our way South and exit onto Edgecombe – a residential street with Littleheath Woods on our left. For excitement purposes, this leg of the video is high speed, until we rejoin the footpath to cross the A2022.
We then follow the path through back gardens, dog walkers and groups of loitering kids to join the National Trust’s Selsdon Wood. This 200 acre oasis of woodland and meadow is where Croydon blends into Surrey’s countryside. And this is where you can really get off the beaten track. Our spin through the Court Wood corner only touches on this historical area.
Runviewer has to confess, this video is a mere snippet of the 18 mile adventure we had that day! This video concludes at Court Wood Lane, but if you check out the map above you’ll see woodland, bridleways and golf courses stretching so far and so quaintly South you’ll think you’re in an episode of Midsomer Murders.
We ended up in Farleigh, a village that sits just inside the North Downs AONB and featured a lot of happy people riding horses on our visit. It feels like a real escape from the smoke, and is just 4.5 miles south of Croydon.
Take our advice – load up on the water and some sturdy shoes and if you’re walking, pack a picnic and hope for sunshine because you’re in for an idyllic day out.
AMENITIES
Parking for Bramley Bank is probably best at the Heathfield Car Park just up Riesco drive. There’s also limited parking on the road to the South at Broadcombe. If you’re coming on foot, the nearest tramlink is Coombe Lane, which sits South of Addington Hills.
Selsdon Wood has a car park just off Old Farleigh Road, but the loos are currently closed, so that’s one pit stop you won’t be able to indulge in. Best find yourself a nice pub eh?