This pond was dug hundreds of years ago to serve livestock and passers-by. Almost certainly rain water fed, it is home to a good range of wildlife. Archaeological digs on the site have uncovered evidence of mankind on this spot over 12,000 years ago, and the pond must have been passed by many pilgrims on their way to Canterbury having stopped at Croydon Parish Church and travelled via Pilgrims Way, Croham Hurst. The area around the Pond and Church once constituted Sanderstead Village, until in 1799 the Squire added the village green to his park, a process of enclosure that went on in Sanderstead during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Sanderstead Pond
Borough: Croydon
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 1.3 ha
Description
Wildlife
The pond has expanses of both fringed water-lily and yellow water-lily. Great reedmace and yellow flag form much of the emergent vegetation. Greater spearwort, spiked milfoil and greater duckweed are among the less common London plants present. There is a good population of water-crowfoot. Although these plants may have been introduced, they are thriving here. The pond has a very good invertebrate community, which includes several species of water snails and water beetles as well as leeches, waterboatmen, dragonflies and damselflies. Sticklebacks and roach occur as do common frogs and smooth newts.Facilities
No information available
Broad-bodied chaser dragonfly © Stephen Frank
Feedback
Have a question or a comment for this site, or notice anything missing or out of date? Please contact us.