Croydon Ducks - South Norwood Country Park

Croydon Ducks - South Norwood Country Park - 2014

Latest update: 28th December 2014

External Links: Council Information Goggle Map Wikipedia Croydon RSPB

South Norwood County Park is a 125 acre park, adjacent to Elmers End railway station, three tram stations and Beckenham
Cemetery. It is mostly wild wet meadows and woods, with a large pond or lake. The land was originally a sewage farm, then
unused for many years and only developed as a park 25 years ago.

There is a car park in the park, entrance in Albert Road (SE25 4QL for satnavs, both shown on the map above) next to the Croydon
Sports Arena, parallel to Portland Road in South Norwood, and entrances from the three tram stations, Elmers End, Arena and Harrington
Road. The park is closed at night. Note that South Norwood Lake and Grounds is a different park, a couple of miles away.

There is visitor centre with toilets next to the car park, but it's only open for two hours weekend afternoons. Also an excellent children's
playground and pitch and putt. There are lots of paths through the park, with cycling encouraged, but no sign posts and some of the
smaller paths are hard to find. The park is well managed for wildlife, with natural fences made from tree trunks and branches around the
pond and along the streams to stop dogs worrying the wildlife. The pond has a large island for nesting and resting, and four small jetties
for visitors to feed the wild fowl. There is a no fishing in the lake.

Older Photos of South Norwood Country Park - 2013

The visitor centre and toilets, next to the car park and children's playground.

18th February 2014, the main park entrance from Albert Road.

A cobbled road with a muddy path leads to the Tramlink rail crossing.

The to the visitor centre and car park.

The council has been building during the winter, not sure what the new building is for, perhaps the golf pitch and putt course.

The main path towards the lake, surprising number of walkers out in the poor weather.

Three Mallards wandering around the boggy fields, perhaps looking for somewhere to nest, but really too dangerous with foxes around.

The main lake seen from the path. Can not get any closer on this side without wellington boots, the path to the lake is heavy mud.

Dark weather so poor photos. Usual Mallards, Canada Geese, Tufted Ducks, and Coots.

Also quite a few sea gulls. Water is deep after eight weeks of heavy rain.

Several pairs of Tufted Ducks.

The heavy rains means even the small streams around the pond are running well full, they are trickles or dry much of the year. The
main path to the right is very muddy.

Further around the lake a few more Mallards and a Coot.

The lake is really quite peaceful, faqr few birds than I've seen in the past.

Mallards, Coots, Tufted Ducks and Sea Gulls.

I'm the only visitor to the lake today, other people are probably aware of how muddy the place is.

17th June 2014, same view of the main lake from the path as four months ago, but all the mud has gone and greenery everywhere.

The lake itself is very quiet, I'm the only one feeding, and few birds here either.

A Coot family and three Canada Geese.

Slowly, more geese and ducks arrive from around the lake.

Following by a Mallard duck family, with three of four ducklings.

A duckling with mother, probably three weeks old.

Unfortunately the ducklings keep by the lake edge making photos difficult.

Possibly Khaki Campbell ducks, a domestic breed variety which apparently lays over 200 eggs a year.

The Mallard family swims away.

Also quiet on the far side of the island, but still manage to feed two loaves of bread.

31st October 2014, the lake is relatively quiet, but various birds slowly arrive from around the lake when they realise food is available.

Only a couple of Canada Geese, usually dozens, but plenty of Mallards and Coots.

There was also a rat swimming here, trying to get to the bread.

Look like Appleyard ducks, larger than Mallards.

And one White Duck.