Are green spaces in Croydon getting wilder or being neglected?

Traditionally, municipal parks have featured neat, well-trimmed green lawns and carefully planned flowerbeds. Long grass and unplanned plants are considered by many to be signs of neglect. The photos above show a neat flowerbed at Waddon Ponds in March 2020 and wildflowers at South Norwood Lake in June 2026. I have recently seen posts in a group where people talk about memories of Croydon bemoaning the lack of flowers at Waddon Ponds, with the poster saying they won't go back there again. I was quite shocked as it's a peaceful oasis behind Purley Way and a great place to see waterbirds. I had barely noticed the loss of the ornamental flowers.

A neat flowerbed in Park Hill Park, April 2020

In Croydon, the council has gone bust several times in the last six years, and spending on parks is minimal. Even before the pandemic, spending was being cut and much of the upkeep of parks was left to friends’ groups. Parks tend to get improvements where there is a specific grant, but otherwise the council only cut the grass and empty the bins. Ornamental flowerbeds have been a victim of these cuts, as it is time consuming and expensive to keep replacing the seasonal displays. At Coombe Wood, a group of local people have taken over managing the beautiful floral displays. In a number of other parks there are areas managed as community gardens, combining ornamental flowers with food growing and species that appeal to wildlife.

Vegetables growing in Thornton Heath library community garden, July 2023

There has also been an increased recognition that long grass and wildflowers provide vital habitat for invertebrates, which in turn support healthy populations of birds, small mammals and more. With many bee and butterfly species struggling, parks and other urban green spaces can play a vital role in providing habitats. 

Comma butterfly perched on the rope boundary of the wildflower area at South Norwood Lake, July 2026

Of course, this has to be balanced with the needs of local residents. It's not feasible to play football in a meadow and it's best when dog walkers can see their pets. Long grass can harbour ticks. However, when I see people complaining that the parks don't have neat, sterile displays of identical flowers, or that the grass verges they don't need to walk on are more than two inches long, it does make me sad. 

A triangular area of Selsdon Rec left for wildflowers, July 2026

I really like that many parks now have dedicated areas that are left to grow for the whole spring and summer and only mown later in the autumn. This allows so many species to thrive. I see butterflies, moths, bees, flies, damselflies and dragonflies using these areas. They are teeming with life. 

Poppies (and some rubbish) on Wellesley Road, June 2026

Along Wellesley Road, outside the Whitgift Centre, wildflowers are growing in the beds. Personally I think this adds a much-needed splash of colour, but the rubbish among them is disappointing and most of the surrounding buildings are empty. The council have allowed their contractors Veolia to remove a lot of bins from our streets, which hasn't helped.

Bee visiting a poppy, Wellesley Road, June 2025

Where there are displays of ornamental flowers on our high streets, they tend to be privately funded. In central Croydon, some are funded by Croydon Business Improvement District, while in Selsdon they are funded by donations to the Residents' Association.

The Green Streets campaign run by Croydon Climate Action aims to get more flowers growing on streets, in tree pits and verges. Local residents are encouraged to come together to plant up these areas and maintain them. Croydon Council currently spray Glyphosate on streets to keep plants under control, which is indiscriminate and harmful to wildlife, but local people can ask for their street to be removed from the spraying regime.

Last year I was waiting for a train at West Croydon station and I saw so many insects enjoying the wildflowers and planters on the platform. Croydon Police Station also has a wildflower area outside, with a sign explaining it's both to save on maintenance and help pollinators.

Toadflax brocade caterpillar on purple toadflax in my garden

You can do the same thing if you have a garden or balcony. Grow some native wildflowers. Let your garden be a bit wilder. See what wildlife turns up.

As for the question in the title of this blog post, I think a combination of neglect and a change in management style are contributing to making Croydon's green spaces wilder. However, without enough management, they risk becoming unusable by the local community. The current situation is that many green spaces are reliant on local people volunteering to keep them going, and I can't see this changing any time soon sadly. In the meantime, the insects don't seem to mind the extra wildness.