The Unexpected Beauty of Croydon

I'm a big fan of ponds. Even a tiny pond can support a huge amount of life. This is the best time of year to see life in ponds, at the start of the breeding season. The great thing about ponds is that while at first glance you may not see anything, stay still and watch for a few minutes and you may spot the golden eyes of frogs peering at you from just above the surface, or newts popping up for air.  This post is about some of the living creatures that live in or visit ponds. I won't cover waterfowl like ducks, geese and swans here, I'm focusing on the less visible creatures. At the end, I've listed some of the ponds locally which are good for wildlife. Common frogs Frog, Littleheath Woods, Feb 2021 Most people are familiar with frogs and their spawn, which they lay in large clumps. Frogs spend the winter hibernating in damp places, such as under piles of leaves, mud or logs. In early spring, they emerge and head for ponds, where they mate and lay spawn.  Gradually the ...

What fairytales could you imagine taking place in Croydon? I think many people would be stumped by this question. Perhaps the Pied Piper of Hamelin or The Ugly Duckling at Waddon Ponds?  There are two particular sites in Croydon which evoke fairytale stories of princesses for me, and both were built in the 19th century for the purposes of water supply.  Pumping Station, Feb 2020 Following the Public Health Act of 1848, which established local boards of health to manage issues including water and sanitation, Croydon was one of the first areas to set up a Local Board of Health. This article from the Museum of Croydon notes that Croydon had very poor sanitation at this point and suffered deadly outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases. A reservoir was built at Park Hill in 1851, filled by a pumping station just off Surrey Street.  Pumping station, Exchange Square, Aug 2017 The pumping station is said to have reused materials originally used in the West Croydon eng...