Croham Hurst is an area of hilly woodland, which is of considerable geological, ecological and historical interest, with evidence of settlements dating back to 5000 years BC. Rising to its high, bare top at 447 feet, the Hurst sits on a wide variety of soil types and therefore has a good range of woodland and grassland habitats. Much of the site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.Croydon Active Lifestyles project uses this site – a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Croham Hurst
Borough: Croydon
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 38.68 ha
Description
Wildlife
Heathland species include bilberry, goldenrod and heather. The upper woodland comprises sessile oak and birch with groups of beech. An uncommon bramble species Rubus cantianus, has been recorded here recently. The lower woodland is more species-rich with sweet woodruff, lily-of-the-valley and yellow archangel. Chalk grassland on the lower slopes supports London rarities ploughman's spikenard, basil thyme and London's only population of the locally-distributed pale St John's-wort. There are several extraordinarily large whitebeam trees near the wooded bridleway running across part of the golf course, which also has spindle, wild privet and traveller's joy.Facilities
Information (on signs).
On the summit of Croham Hurst © Mathew Frith
View west from Croham Hurst © Mike Waite
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