Latest update: 26th December 2019

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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 - 2018

6th January 2019, visitor centre and playground. 

Not cut back last year's growth yet so poor view of the lake.

But a lot of hungry birds, Mallards, Canada geese, Tufted ducks, Coots and swans. And sea gulls here for winter.

There are swans in at least three parks.

A lot of Coots.

And Egyptian geese, they are now at almost all the parks around here. 

View of the southern end of the lake, needs cutting back.

Quieter on the northern side of the lake, but a few birds heading this way from the island. 

Mostly Tufted ducks and sea gulls.

15th September 2019, quite a few Greylag geese here now, as well as Canada geese.

And a pair of swans, but no cygnets. 

It's been a dry summer and the lake water level is very low with large expanses of the bottom exposed, and birds paddling rather than swimming.

A lot of the island exposed, several Cormorants with long beaks for fishing. 

And an Egyptian Goose family on the island, not very obvious but you can see some heads in the pile of feathers behind the adult.

The main lake again. 

More exposed pond bottom. 

Dozens of Greylag geese near another feeding jetty, all looking the same way, at nothing (the sand in the previous photo), the swans are
heading over to see what is happening. The Greylag must have been breeding here this summer. 

Southern end of the lake, with exposed sand.

Most of the Greylag geese that were here 10 minutes ago have swum elsewhere. 

Some geese is standing in the shallow water. 

Now around at the third feeding jetty where the Egyptian Goose family has arrived, also a young Moorhen.

Even less water here than the other jetties. 

The Egyptian goslings must be only a few weeks ago, they breed later in the year than most other birds.

The goslings are spreading out looking for food.

Wider view of the lake, first feeding jetty straight across. 

The final feeding jetty, and the swans are now here,

But not many other birds. 

A few Greylag geese over here. 

And a Heron by the island.

20th October 2019, the awans heading my way.

It's been raining for most of the last month, so the water level is back up to normal. 

Joined by Mallards and a goose. 

And some Coots and gulls. 

The Egyptian Goose family swimming this way.  Most of the Greylag geese seem to have flown away. 

The Egyptian goslings have grown a lot in month. 

All the exposed sand is again under water. 

And the small streams are flowing again in the park. 

Another stream. 

Quiet at the southern corner of the lake. 

Mallards at the second feeding jetty.

Swans are following me around the pond.

Too many gulls. 

Mallards and Coots arrive.

And finally the swans again, still hungry.

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