TCV - Croydon

23/04/2026

April 22nd & 23rd. Hello again. Sorry it’s been a while but welcome to another dispatch from the front line in the battle for conservation. This week we were in Happy Valley which was well worth its sobriquet due the the gorgeous weather. Our task was to clear the pathways around the meadows so that, come summer, the brambles, branches, and Triffids won’t be making life unpleasantly scratchy for our resident ramblers. We had ten splendid (albeit sweaty) examples of humanity on each day, so thanks so much to you all. If anyone can get down to Happy Valley at the weekend do it, the weather will be lovely.

25/01/2026

21st January. A first visit of the year to our latest coupe in Happy Valley. Thanks to everyone’s hard graft it’s now much more open and will allow lots of sunlight to reach the floor and encourage the underground seed bank to germinate. Alas there was precious little (ie none) in the way of sunlight today for ‘twas very soggy indeed and verily did we become soaked for the second week in a row. Massive thanks to the seven stout hearts (including two fab new faces) who worked uncomplainingly all day. Next time we will start erecting the fence. Oh yes.

19/01/2026

15th January. A change of plan for today. We were supposed to be back at Coulsdon Common but the weather forecast was expected to have turned the Common into a quagmire so we decamped to South Norwood Country Park instead. The job was to continue coppicing the willow by the lake's edge to give the reed beds some breathing space and maintain the habitat for the wading birds. We also cleared the thickets further back to allow more light to reach the ground and stimulate a more diverse mixture of plants. It was a day when only the hardest of the hard core came out to play so thanks a billion to those who braved the weather. Well done team.

31/12/2025

As the final few hours of 2025 tick by here’s a misty-eyed recap of our last twelve months. Apologies for the photo dump (again) but there were so many highlights that it was tricky knowing what to leave out. Alas some of our regular volunteers have left us this year but we’ve also attracted some new blood which we’re very happy about. Croydon has such a variety of nature habitats which we thoroughly enjoy getting stuck into. There’s also a few new locations on the agenda for the New Year so that’s something to look forward to. To those of our volunteers who are actually on social media (about three of you) thanks sooooo much for your wonderful efforts this year. And to those who read these posts thanks too, it’s lovely to have such an appreciative audience.

12/12/2025

10th & 11th December. We were quite excited this week because we went to a brand-new site. Now, we love our regular haunts but going somewhere different does quicken the pulse. Kenley Common was the destination, it’s managed by the City of London Corporation and sits next door to Kenley Airfield which is a fascinating place in its own right being that it’s the most intact fighter airfield surviving from the Battle of Britain. Luckily our job this week was far less hazardous than duelling in the skies (unless you count the chainsawing). Holly and bramble were the chief enemies in our sights, which we cut back and dug up to allow more light to reach the floor to encourage oak saplings and new plant growth. Seven volunteers came on Wednesday, nine on Thursday and we cleared and disposed of loads more than we’d expected. Jolly good show everyone, medals all round.

05/12/2025

Seeing as the United Nations has declared today here's another offering from Croydon's intrepid band of TCV volunteers. This week we were at King's Wood coppicing hazel and birch. Wednesday was blessed with blue sky and sunshine. But we don't have any photos from Wednesday so here's Thursday's activities in the pouring rain instead. Well done to the nine hardy souls who stuck at it (even if some of you did hide in the van for a while).

05/12/2025

26th & 27th November. Back to South Norwood Country Park this week to coppice willow by the edge of the lake. As in seasons past this work creates a wading-bird-friendly environment for them to feed, nest and rear their young. The willow is added to the dead hedges that surround the coppiced area in the hope (sometimes vain) that the local fishermen and their dogs are discouraged from entering the area and scaring off the birds. Well, we have to hope. Thanks a ton/tonne to everyone who came out this week, you were ace as usual.

21/11/2025

19th & 20th November. Brrrrrr!!!! Definitely a nip in the air this week, although Thursday at least had the benefit of sunshine compared with Wednesday's utterly evil rain. Another week, another coupe to coppice. Plenty to harvest here too, all of it hazel. It wasn't a complete blitz however as we are going to leave some stems to provide an aerial highway for the local dormice who find this a much safer option than ground level travel. The fire was a must-have item this week but we did manage to cut plenty more stakes and binders too. And create a cosy habitat pile into the bargain. Thanks once more to our valiant volunteers, eight on both days. Well done all.

19/11/2025

This is for all of you who volunteer in green spaces as part of a local friends' group.
The University of Sheffield wants to know about your group, the work you do, the challenges you face, and the sort of help you need.
It's the UK's biggest ever survey of green space community groups and will help shape future support for your group and green space.
The link to the survey is below and there's a deadline of Sunday 7th December.
Please forward this to any groups you know. Thanks!

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15/11/2025

12th & 13th November. Hello everyone. It’s been a while but this week we spent two delicious days coppicing in lovely King’s Wood again. In the Dear Leader’s absence the group was looked after by a special guest leader who was ace. As well as coppicing we also repaired the fence around last year’s coupe which someone had seen fit to cut up. A stout five volunteers on Wednesday rising to a hearty twelve on Thursday. Thanks to you all, you were brilliant.