Roundshaw Downs is located mainly on and around the site of the old Croydon airport. It consists mainly of a mosaic of chalk and neutral grassland of varying quality, although there are some areas where grassland has now returned to woodland. To keep the grassland as grassland the site is mowed regularly and the hay removed.The majority of the site in Sutton is a Local Nature Reserve.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Roundshaw Downs
Borough: Croydon, Sutton
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 51.2 ha
Description
Wildlife
In richer areas are strong populations of the nationally rare plant greater yellow-rattle. Other uncommon plants on the site include field mouse-ear, blue fleabane, hairy oat-grass, cypress spurge and the two parasitic plants, common broomrape and knapweed broomrape.The secondary woodland consists mainly of oak and sycamore, with the uncommon plants moschatel, goldilocks buttercup and bearded couch in the ground flora.This is an important breeding site for the declining skylark, while large flocks of linnet, another declining songbird, are present in autumn and winter.The site's insect life is also of interest.Facilities
Information (on signs); Sutton Council also organise activities like birdwatching walks, bat walks and bug-hunting with local youth groups.
Tall broomrape © Mike Waite
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