Croydon Ducks - Brickfields Meadow

Croydon Ducks - Brickfields Meadow - 2013

Latest update: 3rd December 2013

External Links: Council Information Google Map

Brickfields Meadow is a 10 acre park in Woodside, only about 20 years old, the site of a old brick works with the main pond being an
old clay pit. When the clay ran out, they used clay dug from the Victoria Line underground tunnels to make bricks. Much of the site is
now new housing, the rest a new park with a large, deep, fish filled pond, and a small more natural pond, also woodland and play area.

Best parking is at the end of Christie Drive (CR0 6YA for satnavs), off Davidson Road in Woodside, but there are several entrances
around the meadow from other roads, including Anthony Road (off Morland Road) and Tennison Road (but not Birchanger Road to the
west), no gates.

The meadow is entirely surrounded by housing, and seems to be a depository for a lot of rubbish, including in the water which does
not always look very clear. Fishing is allowed in the pond, which has various water fowl, but no more than a dozen birds have been
seen at any one time.

Older Photos of Brickfields Meadow - 2012

20th March 2013, the pond is very quiet, only two Mallards, and a few Coots and Moorhens, there was much more activity last spring,
but it is still very cold weather, nobody fishing either.

A couple of Coots heading our way, slowly.

Just one Coot on the small pond, but did seem to have a nest among the reeds.

10th May 2013, Mallards and Coots, but no Mallard ducklings yet. There seems to be an abandoned car in the water. No-one fishing yet.

Hopefully there will be one or two Mallard nests around the pond, somewhere.

There is at least one Coot chick on the small pond, waiting for food from it's parents.

And some Mallards then fly in to the small pond, looking for food.

25th June 2013, the pond level is a little lower and the submerged car is more obvious, otherwise all seems very quiet.

The small pond has the usual Coots and Moorhens, although no obvious chicks, might have been resting.

Back on the main pond, several Mallards finally appear from the far side, mostly boys, not very hungry. Still no sign of ducklings.

5th October 2013, first visit in four months, the vegetation has been growing all summer, but all the Mallards have left.

Leaving just a few Moorhens around, a couple of Coots.

Nothing much happening on the large pond today either.

21st October 2013, the pond is much busier this week, still no Mallards but maybe a dozen Moorhens swimming around, and
probably more hidden around the edges.

One group of Moorhens.

A second group of Moorhens near the submerged car.

15th November 2013, the pond is still very quiet, just a few Coots and Moorhens.

But the water is about a foot deeper than our last visit since the car is almost submerged again, one Moorhen sitting on the roof.