Biggin Wood is one of the few remaining areas of the Great North Wood which once covered much of the higher ground and slopes in the area. The wood appears to have been part of a 120 acre estate known as Biggin’s Farm. The origins of the name appear to come from the early 16th century, with the name “Byggyng” appearing on a map of 1512. The word is of Viking origin and is unusual in having survived this far south. In addition to the wood, the site has an ancient boundary bank as well as a temporary rivulet. The Capital Ring runs across the site.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Biggin Wood
Borough: Croydon
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 5.18 ha
Description
Wildlife
The woodland is mainly composed of sessile oak, a remnant of the Great North Wood. However, the wood suffered disturbance in the 1940s which has resulted in the southern part having almost no ground cover. Other trees present include ash, silver birch and yew, as well as the occasional beech, pedunculate oak, sycamore, hornbeam and wild cherry. The northern area of the wood is better structured, with an understorey of holly and hawthorn and the occasional blackthorn, yew, elder and honeysuckle. Bluebells, wood millet, ramsons and figwort grow among the brambles and ivy. There are also small amounts of wood anemone and yellow archangel. The wood has several ancient features, including the bank with boundary oaks on its eastern side, and old pollard oaks along the southern and western boundaries. The rivulet appears along the eastern side of the wood, but only after extended rain.Facilities
Toilets; marked walking route
Ramsons © Denis Vickers
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