This former Battle of Britain airfield is now a large common with a wide range of habitats. Kenley is one of seven metropolitan commons owned and managed by the City of London, as a result of legislation passed in 1878 responding to concern at the rapid disappearance of open spaces in Greater London. The grasslands here are in some places rich in lime and at the other extreme, peaty and acidic. The bulk of the Common lies on a flat plateau to the north of the airfield, however it is where the site drops steeply into the Caterham valley that the chalk grassland mainly occurs. The woodlands are chiefly of oak and ash, with some birch and sweet chestnut. Cattle and sheep have been grazing parts of the Common for over ten years.Kenley Common won a Green Flag Award again for 20089.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Kenley Common
Borough: Croydon
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 57.18 ha
Description
Wildlife
In the chalk grasslands the nationally rare plant greater yellow-rattle is common. It is accompanied here by sainfoin, hairy St John's-wort and various orchids, including fly, common-spotted and pyramidal. The woodland is carpeted with bluebells in spring. In grassland on the more acidic top of the common are tormentil, heath bedstraw, fine-leaved sheep's fescue and heath-grass.The declining grizzled skipper butterfly has been recorded here.Facilities
Information (on signs); families with young children like to visit the grazing cattle and sheep.
Greater yellow-rattle © Mike Waite
Grizzled skipper butterfly © Mike Waite
Feedback
Have a question or a comment for this site, or notice anything missing or out of date? Please contact us.