The London Borough of Bromley public engagement evening to discuss proposed habitat creation works on the West Kyd Brook in Crofton Woods planned for 31 March 2026 5pm - 7pm at St James The Great Church, 283 Crescent Drive, BR5 1AY. is cancelled
Friends of Crofton and Sparrow Woods
.... including Gumping Common, Crofton Heath and Eynsford Recreation Ground
Recent news
20Feb
Come and join the Easter Quiz Nature Trail on 4 April and win an egg for only £3!
Join us for a morning of Easter adventure from 10:00am to 12:30pm starting at Petts Wood Recreation Ground Car Park on Easter Saturday, 4 April!
For just £3, pick up your question sheet and set off on a fun, family-friendly trail through the recreation ground and surrounding woodland. Follow the short route, solve the clues, and answer the questions as you go.
Every completed sheet earns a delicious Easter egg prize — so keep your eyes peeled and your pencils ready!
Perfect for children (with a little help from a grown-up), this interactive trail is a fantastic way to explore nature and discover more about the wildlife and plants in our local area while enjoying some fresh spring air.
Come along whatever the weather, get exploring, and make this Easter one to remember! 🌼🥚🌿
20Feb
Young Elm trees for Crofton and Sparrow Woods
Crofton and Sparrow Woods once included the lovely Elm among its woodland trees. Dutch Elm disease saw them all off, apart from a couple of young saplings holding on behind the playground.
So we applied to the London Elm Project for help. Through them we have received three lovely young Elm trees of different disease resistant varieties.
As you can see the Group is ready and willing to plant them out. Once we have got permission from idverde’s tree team they will be planted around the recreation ground.
Finally we will start seeing Elms again. Summer watering volunteers keenly sought!
21Jan
We are delighted to announce the plans for Spring annd Summer 2026 work for the Tuesday morning Work Group in the lovely Crofton and Sparrow Woods.
The prime focus for 2026 is to tackle as many alien species as we can - mostly garden escapees.
As the bird nesting season gets underway, woodland work is necessarily limited to avoid disturbance, so we will start working closer to paths where nests are rarer.
Why not come and join us?
08Jan
Volunteer dates for winter/spring for outdoor work, seeking your support
Saturday 31 January 2026
Saturday 28 February 2026
Saturday 28 March 2026
at 10.00am
Meet at the woodland end of the pedestrian entrance from Broadcroft Road. Suitable for all ages and physical abilities – bring secateurs, loppers and a spade of you have them. Join us to enjoy the outdoors and battle the bramble to retain our last bit of ex-arable grassland.
12Dec
Candlesnuff fungus in Crofton Woods
The Candlesnuff fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon) is showing well on dead wood on the woodland floor at the moment.
So-named because it looks a bit like the candlewax from a snuffed out candle.
It has anti-viral properties and is said to be active against tumours. Don't eat it though - it is very tough, and you might get your identification wrong and eat something poisonous!
09Nov
A BIG thank you to the ETR Environmental fund who agreed our bid for funding of bat and bird boxes.
Crofton and Sparrow Woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest as it is a rare wet woodland habitat in London supporting a wide range of plants, animals and birds as well as butterflies and moths.
But time has not been kind to the area. Conserving that biodiversity is a real challenge as the land has been largely unmanaged since the war with the consequence of increased young woodland and much less ex-arable areas, as well as climate change to the rainfall patterns. The loss of the mix of habitat has shown a significant decrease in the variety of birds seen over the past 50 years and bats were identified as an underperforming group in the woods by an RSPB senior ecologist earlier this year.
Providing suitable habitat for birds such as the Nuthatch, and our three species of bat, are essential to maintain the remaining diversity of the wildlife as well as the food chain. We sought bat boxes in order to create artificial “veteran tree features” in the woodland. There are relatively few of the very old, declining oaks that provide them - they are missing in this woodland possibly due to overharvesting in the 18th/19th centuries.
We are also developing an interpretation board dedicated to the birds and bats of Crofton Woods.
06Oct
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, ALL THE PLACES FOR THIS EVENT HAVE NOW BEEN SOLD.
Come and join the fun for only £42 and support a great cause.
Pre-booking essential
Date & Time: 6 December 2025 2.30pm to 5pm
Location: GEA Hall, 36, Woodhurst Avenue, Petts Wood, BR5 1AR
All ages welcome
Limited places available
Email: friendscroftonandsparrowwoods@gmail.com
25Sep
Grant funding for water improvement survey Kyd Brook Crofton Woods
Good news! Bromley Council has allocated £27000 to their Capital Programme for a Crofton and Sparrow Woods Waterbody improvement scheme. This project will be grant funded by Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF).
This will fund a study on the water catchment throughout the woods.
Group Member Andy has tracked down the Council paper which shares the details that are available to us. https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/documents/s50124741/Capital%20Programme%20Monitoring%20EXEC%20Q1%202025-26.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6f3bwj01oq24Db7xHYMd1gmTgeRtTe_FbKm3QuJ03arssU0CWDXhJU6qdPdA_aem_PsXBO-wpbxsmkWRx-Fhr2w
Our main concern has been the sewage channelled into the western branch of the Kyd Brook when it rains hard, and residents along the eastern branch are rightly concerned about flooding. Also, although the woodland is very muddy in winter, it is very dry indeed in summer, so more water in the ground than whizzing fast down artifically straightened water courses might solve several issues as once.
Got to be good news that the issue is being looked at.
Here's a photo of sewage in the stream!
21Sep
Autumn fungi in Crofton Woods
It is a great time to get out into the woods and enjoy the start of Autumn. Simon Mott's recent photos show what is emerging now in Crofton Woods.
20Aug
Fancy offering a couple of hours a fortnight to support your local wild space? Then why not come along on alternate Tuesday mornings and join our Work Group.
Equipment and instruction provided. Both energetic work and light tasks avalable.
A great way to get fresh air, meet local people and learn about woodland management. Here is our programme - the first session of the season is on 2 September.
Contact friendscroftonandsparrowwoods@gmail.com to join our mailing list and get location reminders.
19Aug
The RSPB's Luke Blanchard had a clear sighting of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in late July.
The RSPB's Luke Blanchard had a clear sighting of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in late July. This bird used to be a well known resident of the woods, but hasn't been seen for years beyond one suspected sighting, so it is very exciting to have a report from a good birder of a clear sighting. (He didn't have time to get a photo, so the ones here are David's from Herzogovinia!)
Rumour has it that the spread of Ash dieback has lead to a lot of standing dead wood which the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker likes, so they are being seen more often in the UK.
Whatever the reason, we are delighted to ba able to share the news. We also had a reliable report of a Willow Warbler heard in August.
About Us
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. We always welcome a volunteer litter picker. in 2025 we successfuly expanded to small groups of volunteers supervised by their carers undertaking wooodland work under the direction of our Work Group leader. We even had a special project - reviewing the Crofton Circular Walk as part our our improvement project.
The Group is actively looking for new members including people who would like to to do one or more of the following:
(All photographs are subject to copyright - contact friendscroftonandsparrowwoods@gmail.com if you wish to reproduce them elsewhere)
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. We always welcome a volunteer litter picker. in 2025 we successfuly expanded to small groups of volunteers supervised by their carers undertaking wooodland work under the direction of our Work Group leader. We even had a special project - reviewing the Crofton Circular Walk as part our our improvement project.
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 area'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)
(All photographs are subject to copyright - contact friendscroftonandsparrowwoods@gmail.com if you wish to reproduce them elsewhere)
Join us
- Eynsford Close, Petts Wood, Orpington BR5 1DP, UK
- +44-7968269008 - Chairman
- membershipfocsw@gmail.com
- 24/7 for foot access - car park open daylight hours
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.
Work Group
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 - Autumn and Winter 2025
Come and join the Work Group! Here are the dates and plans from September 2025 through to February 2026. Come and join in to make a difference for nature. (Occasionally our planned meeting points change due to unexpected new priority work - so feel free to check by emailing friendscroftonandsparrowwoods@gmail.com.)
Saturday Work Group
We run a Saturday Work Group on an occasional basis. Our next meeting is 10am on 22 February 2025 - come and join in!
History
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.
Wildlife and Flora
People
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
Joao Peres
Committee Member
Danielle Wells
Committee Member
Forms
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.
Documents
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