Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods

.... including Gumping Common, Crofton Heath and Eynsford Recreation Ground

08Mar

Every year we have reports in Spring of sightings of a pair of Mandatrion Ducks. This year is no exception - with Group member Kirsty making our first sighting report.  They are wood ducks and so nest in trees. Although there have yet to be any reports of successful breeding, perhaps 2024 will be the first year.


2024 is also proving a good year for frogspawn - member Sue spotted that one bomb hole is packed and shared this video. Let us hope that the hole does not dry out too soon this year. 


14Jan

The alternate Tuesday morning Work Group has restarted for 2024. More joiners very welcome - work is as hard or easy as suits you, and you are making a valuable contribution to our beautiful local area.

Colin found this spring buried in the leaf litter on our first session - litter picking is a constant task - litter pickers are available to borrow to collect it if you are happy to help.

10Nov

Redwing enjoying a bumper crop of holly berries today

Redwings are the UK's smallest thrush. They fly here in winter from Scandinavia. For the last couple of weeks they have been arriving and consuming holly berries, like this one in Sparrow Wood today.

05Nov

2023 is proving a good year for fungi: come and see them before winter sets in.

The woods are beginning to turn to mud - but before it gets too deep, check out the fungi - wet weather does have benefits!

23Sep

Caroline Potter is leading the first Saturday Work Group session of the Autumn next Saturday – 30th September. She is planning to focus on the area behind the horses’ field (nearest road access Broadcroft Road), starting at 10.00am. 

Pease do come along and join – even if you only have a little time. Please bring your own equipment if you have it – although gloves and some spare tools will also be available. 

Meet in the field area end of the footpath from Broadcroft Road.

01Sep

Work Group schedule for autumn 2023. All welcome

Every other Tuesday morning outside the summer we meet at 10.00am  at different locations around Crofton and Sparrow Woods for two and a quarter hours. 

We are a mixed ability (and age) Group - there are tree choppers and light-task workers, but between us we work to help maintain the Council-owned areas of the woodland. 

For example, we coppice hazel etc to open up areas to light to the benefit of ground flora and insects. We clear areas around oaks to ensure that their roots get the nutrients to thrive.  We try and re-open St Thomas Open Space so that it is more open again. 

All this is done in partnership with idverde, Bromley Council's contractor, as the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Many of us are working or have other committements, so we are used to people not coming every fortnight, and having to leave early.

Fancy joining us and seeing if is for you? Well, the plans for the next few sessions are on this site for the first time. 

Come suitably dressed - and for mud if it has been wet. 

Want to ask a question? Call Jane Andrews on 07968 269008, and she will try and get you the answer!


11Jun

All the latest news on wildlife from badgers and deer to dog roses, as well as a spotlight on the history of the now demolished smallpox hospital deep in the woods.

Do sign up for our mailing list to receive a copy of our popular e-newsletter with all the latest news about park improvements, wildlfie and history. June 2023 newsletter now available.

01May

Wood anenome in Crofton Woods

All welcome to a free talk: A celebration of Crofton Woods and its wildlife.

Join us on Wednesday 17 May 2023 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm at Lakeswood Hall, Lakeswood Road, Petts Wood, BR5 1DH 

Hear a lively and interesting talk about the history and wildlife of Crofton and Sparrow Woods, as well as all the latest news on plans for improving the area.  Hot drink and cakes available.    (Followed by short FoC&SW AGM)

The Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods is dedicated to maintaining and improving this beautiful, well used, and environmentally important site.

Much of the woodland is an area of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is a rare wet woodland habitat in London which supports a wide range of plants, wild animals and birds, as well as butterflies and moths.

The area includes a well used walking commuter route for the surrounding urban population to get to school, work, shops and Petts Wood station. There is a popular children's playground, playing fields, and easy walks into the extensive woodland (although very muddy in winter).

The Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods provides volunteering opportunities for the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme Bronze Award.

The Group is actively looking for new members including people who would like to to do one or more of the following:

  • Learn more about the areas's history and local environment through receiving our newsletter.
  • Join our fortnightly Tuesday morning woodland Work Groups.
  • Help with litter picking.
  • Join in butterfly, moth, plant, and bird identification (no experience necessary).
  • Help running the Group - from manning stalls at local events, writing articles, applying for grants, running the website, joining the Committee, to bringing new ideas.
  • Make a donation towards our objectives (e.g. rewilding part of the recreation ground, better signage, a replacement bridge to Gumping Common, a firm path all around the recreation ground to improve disabled access, playground improvements etc)
Join and help make a difference to our local community.


(All photographs are subject to copyright - contact friendscroftonandsparrowwoods@gmail.com if you wish to reproduce them elsewhere)


About Us imageAbout Us image
  • Eynsford Close, Petts Wood, Orpington BR5 1DP, UK

The Friends of Crofton Woods is a group of like minded people interested in knowing more about the wildlife and history of the area, and supporting the area's use for recreation and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We need you to join us to help keep the area beautiful. If you just wish to donate for yourself or in memory of a loved one, we will ensure that all your money is dedicated to improving the woodland and recreation ground. Do get in touch. If you'd like our membership form - you can find it under the 'Forms' heading.


Fortnightly Tuesday morning Work Group needs you!

Fortnightly Tuesday morning Work Group needs you!

Join our friendly alternate Tuesday morning Work Group. No need to commit to every session - occasional joiners very welcome. Work is suitable for all ages and abilities, and equipment is provided if you do not have your own.

Work Programme for alternate Tuesday Work Group - February to July 2024

Work Programme for alternate Tuesday Work Group - February to July 2024

Come and join the Work Group! Here are the dates and plans from February to July 2024. Come and make a difference for nature.

Saturday Work Group

Saturday Work Group

We run a Saturday Work Group on an occasional basis. Our next meeting is 10am on 24 February - come and join in!

History image
The area has a long history - from when Odo, William the Conqueror's half brother, was given the land. It been woodland and fields for hundreds of years, and has never had a grand house on it. The land was broken into smaller field-sized pieces, with the result of a large number of owners of one or more piece, and they often then rented to tenants.  

Some of the area has been woodland for at least 400 years. Some was arable land until the end of the 20th Century.

Over the 19th Century there were many disputes between area occupants, with animals straying to others' areas, and boundary disputes.

About a third of the currently wooded area was arable land, but by the 20th century bush and small trees started taking over.

80% of the area was in agricultural use in 1937.

Regular coppicing ceased around 1930.

In 1963 the old Orpington Urban District Council agreed to compulsorily purchase much of the area of open space with a small nature reserve in one section.

In 1966 when Orpington became part of the Greater London Borough of Bromley, the Bromley authority commenced a plan to ensure that the area remained Green Belt and Public Open Space .

1970 - a planning application was made to build houses on the site of the isolation hospital, but this was withdrawn.

Early in 1973 a full dossier of the natural history of the area was completed (which the Friends Group would love to see). This listed 342 plants, over 60 species of birds, 30 butterflies and innumerable moths recorded from 1934 - 72. At that time the area was put on a list of Sites of Special Scientific interest at Nature Conservancy.

In March 1973 the principle owners- Rookery Estates and M E W Norman submitted a planning application to develop 139 acres for 1000 houses.

By 1974 Sparrow Common was becoming scrub - and it is now woodland.

2-3 April 1974 a planning application (after appeal) by Rookery Estates and Mr G H Norman to develop 139 acres of Sparrow Wood, Roundabout Wood and Crofton Heath was refused.

April 1989 - The Nature Conservancy Council declared the area as a Site of Special Scientific interest.

Early 1990s - Bromley Council acquired 40 acres (16 hectares) of Sparrow Wood, part of it isolated. Also 15 acres (6 hectares) called St Thomas Open Space near St Thomas Drive- former Education land, Gumping Common and part of Crofton Heath.

St Thomas Open Space was agricultural land until the 1930s. When the Council acquired it, it was being maintained as open grassland with a scattering of trees. By 2021 only a small amount of grassland survived.

1998- Thames Water were going to install a relief sewer on the west side of the long metalled path that runs along the east side of the area, making boreholes and promising a public meeting, but the work was postponed.

The Friends Group has researched the history behind the Fever Hospital that was built in in the woods, the reasons some areas were owned by the Isleworth Bluecoat School, and the 20th century plans to build sewers, bypasses and housing.

If you are interested in knowing more about the history, or have knowledge that you are happy to share with the Friends Group, please contact friendscroftonandsparrowwoods@gmail.com.

We are particularly interested in any photographs that you may have.

Jane Andrews

Chairman

Kirsty Blackman

Committee member

Karen King

Treasurer and Committee member

Claire Osborn

Membership Secretary and Committee Member

John Bray

Secretary and Committee Member

Derek Middlemass

Facebook manager

Membership and Donation Form

This includes a link to the PDF of the Membership and Donation Form for the Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods. .

Privacy Policy

This is the privacy policy that has been agreed by the Committee of the Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods.

 Constitution

This is the Constitution for the Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods

 Committee meeting minutes

Minutes of the Committee meetings of the Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods