Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Duppas Hill
Borough: Croydon
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 6.53 ha

Description

Duppas Hill became Croydon’s first recreation ground when it was purchased by the Croydon Board of Health in 1865. It has a tradition of medieval tournaments on its slopes and other festivals. As well as grassland there are a good number of mature trees.

Wildlife

One lime tree is home to two separate mistletoe plants, which is uncommon in London. There are many clumps of grey sedge scattered throughout the park, also uncommon. The shallow, rather acid soil lying on sub-soil gravels produces extensive patches of acid grassland. This has a number of locally scarce plants including slender parsley-piert, birds-foot and knotted clover. The area is good for insects with many butterfly species and stag beetles.

Facilities

Bandstand; cricket pitch; playground
Stag beetle © Tony Drakeford

Stag beetle © Tony Drakeford
Holly blue butterfly © Mike Waite

Holly blue butterfly © Mike Waite

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

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