The man-made South Norwood Lake is set in attractive parkland and is the only large expanse of open water in Croydon. It was built in the early 19th century to supply a canal that formerly connected New Cross to Croydon. Apart from the lake, the site also has grassland, woodland and scrub.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
South Norwood Lake and surrounds
Borough: Croydon
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 9.69 ha
Description
Wildlife
The lake banks are heavily grazed by a large waterfowl community, however yellow iris manages to survive here. Breeding waterfowl include coot, great crested grebe, moorhen, mallard, Canada goose and tufted duck. Other ducks visit in winter, sometimes including uncommon species such as scaup and red-breasted merganser. An American pied-billed grebe spent the winter here in the 1990s, the first ever recorded in London. The surrounding grassland is mostly species-poor amenity turf, but does include some species which indicate acid grassland, such as bents and lesser stitchwort. The woodland and scrub to the north, as well as the roughland on the former allotments, support a wide range of birds and insects including a good variety of butterflies. Slow-worms have also been recorded.Facilities
Toilets; disabled toilets; baby changing facilities; playground; trim trail; fishing
Pied-billed grebe © Unknown
Shovelers feeding © Susy Hogarth
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