Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Fishponds
Borough: Kingston upon Thames
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 5.15 ha

Description

This small municipal park in Surbiton lies within the grounds of a mid-18th century estate, The Fishponds. There are several features of value to wildlife, including ponds, some woodland, a short stream and an area of rich neutral grassland, managed as a hay meadow.

Wildlife

The ponds all have a good quantity of plant life and support several species of common amphibians and dragonflies. The wooded area in the northwest of the park is composed of ash, sycamore and some hornbeam. Amongst the ground-flora is the locally uncommon soft shield-fern. The meadow is only partly cultivated, and consists of a variety of grasses and wildflowers. Common knapweed and yarrow abound here, as well as an important colony of the regionally scarce plant corky-fruited water-dropwort

Facilities

Information; historic features; public art.
Mute swan © Susy Hogarth

Mute swan © Susy Hogarth
Corky-fruited water-dropwort © Mike Waite

Corky-fruited water-dropwort © Mike Waite

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

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