Latest update: 4th November 2011
External Links: Council Information Park Map Goggle Map Wikipedia
Crystal Palace Park, on the top of Sydenham Hill, just north of Croydon is
one of the oldest in London. Although the park is I40
acres, it is
heavily developed with the National Sports Centre athletics stadium and swimming
pool splitting the park in two, with
many other buildings and structures, and
parts of the park are often closed off for special events such as car rallies.
There are car parks accessed off the Anerley Road, up the hill from Elmers
End Road, near Crystal Palace Station. There is also
road parking much
nearer the lake in Thicket Road at the southern edge of the park. Closed at
night.
The southern end of the park has a series of lakes and ponds, heavily
landscaped with paths and bridges, and with 33 concrete
prehistoric monsters
created 150 years ago. There are a lot of water fowl, but sparsely spread
between the different ponds.
There is another lake in the concert bowl in
the north of the park.
Wide shot of lower park and play area at Crystal Palace Park.
The lower ponds and lake have extensive mature landscaping, with the path mostly several feet from the water's edge.
A few Mallards on the pond, with a concrete monster on the far side of the water.
Another Coot nest in the water, with more monsters.
30th May 2011, wide shot taken from the Geological Bridge, with water
cascading down several levels from a stream the the lower
pond, There
are Mallards in the foreground, and a Heron looking for fish in the lower pond,
with monsters in the distance.
More monsters.
Ditto.
Some water fowl, a Mallard and Moorhen.
Wide shot showing various well used paths in the distance.
The lower boating lake, originally a reservoir for the extensive fountains
and water features higher up the hill in the park, with a few water
fowl.
Feeding ducks is not easy due to the distance of the path from the water, but
this Mallard knows this and climbed out of the water to
get closer to the
path for some food. Surprised at how hungry she is, considering the
hundreds of people walking around these ponds.
The lower lake again.
A beach area at the end of the lake, with a family of Coots, a Canada Goose and lots of pigeons.
The Coot nest seems much greener than most, one of the young Coots being fed by mother.
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