Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Farthing Downs, Devilsden Wood and Happy Valley

Borough: Croydon

Grade: Metropolitan

Access: Free public access (all/most of site)

Area: 166.46 ha

Description

This three-part site consists of a rich variety of habitats overlying chalk. The chalk grassland of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley supports many interesting plants. The ancient woodland of Devilsden Wood and areas to the south consists of ash, hazel, yew and oak, with field maple, whitebeam and spindle.Farthing Downs are owned and managed by the City of London, which reintroduced grazing to the site some years ago. Happy Valley and Devilsden Wood are owned by Croydon Council.Farthing Downs and much of Happy Valley have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England. Farthing Downs and Happy Valley both won a Green Flag Award again for 20089. Croydon Active Lifestyles project uses part of this site (Happy Valley) – a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.

Wildlife

The Downs host a large population of the nationally rare plant, greater yellow-rattle. Other uncommon wildflowers include round-headed rampion, dropwort, horseshoe vetch and woolly thistle; some ten species of orchids have also been recorded from this site, including the declining species, man orchid. In Devilsden Wood white helleborine and bird's-nest orchid grow in shady areas.Birds breeding here include kestrel, tawny owl, and several declining species such as skylark, linnet and yellowhammer. Mammals include stoat, weasel, wood-mouse and mole. The invertebrate wildlife is also important with glow-worm, Roman snail and 24 butterfly species (including chalkhill blue) all present on the site.

Facilities

Information and cafe (in the Downs area of the site); grazing cattle; car parking; toilets (including disabled facilities at Farthing Downs); nature trails; cross-country course; playground in Ellis Road area of Happy Valley; horse riding.

View Interactive map

Roman snail © London Wildlife Trust

Greater yellow-rattle in flower at Farthing Downs © Mike Waite

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More information on GiGL’s SINC dataset can be found here.

Additional information, including other site designations and species recorded onsite and nearby, can be provided in community and client data search reports. Request information here.