Croydon Ducks - South Norwood Country Park

Croydon Ducks - South Norwood Country Park - 2015

Latest update: 15th September 2015

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 - 2014

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

7th May 2015, the lake is just visible over the rapidly growing grass from the main path.

Initially, the lake seems empty, although a few water fowl head this way once they realise food has arrived.

Two Coots arriving from the nursery area.

Finally get a good collection of Mallards, Canada Geese, Coots, Moorhens and Tufted Ducks.

Although far few Canada Geese than in earlier years.

Each park seems to have one white duck.

The otherside of the island is quiet as well.

But there is a Coot family, mostly in the distance.

One Coot duckling.

More Coot ducklings in the distance.

12th August 2015, indifferent summer weather, although the children's playground is very busy. But not the lake, very few ducks and
geese, and no-one seems very hungry during the late afternoon visit, maybe lots of people feeding them earlier?

A few Coots come over for food.

Some Canada Geese on the island, but mostly happy to stay there.

Finally one goose and a couple of Mallards arrive for food.

Not much activity on the other side of the island either.