In praise of street wildlife
Chepstow Road is not the most memorable of thoroughfares. It is a dual carriageway running between the Park Hill roundabout and the Addiscombe Road tram crossing, on the way from Croydon town centre eastwards to Addiscombe, Shirley and beyond. However, this time of year, the grass verges are awash with a sea of yellow. This looks striking if you're driving or walking past. On closer examination, there's a wider variety of plant species and they support an array of wildlife. Bumblebee inside a daffodil, Chepstow Road, March 2021 Violets, Chepstow Road, March 2021 Fig buttercups, Chepstow Road, March 2021 I was excited to see a brimstone butterfly flitting between plants on Chepstow Road. It particularly liked the plants below, which I think may be dead nettles. It's nice to go to a quiet nature reserve and see butterflies but it feels extra special to see them living in such urban places. Brimstone butterfly Dandelion, Addiscombe Road, March 2021 Here's some more examp