Birch and Rowdown comprise 30 hectares of woodland located in the Croydon wards of Field Way and New Addington. The woods are designated a Grade I Site of Borough Importance.
Woodland Ecology
Birch and Rowdown are ancient woodlands linked by an area of grassland. In the north-west, the wood is fairly open, and dominated by birch. Oak, ash and hazel dominate in the south, where there is a particularly rich ground flora, including early purple orchid, butcher’s broom and town hall clock. Both woods have a varied structure with unusually good understorey.
Threats prior to Capital Woodlands
Burnt out cars and scooters, fly tipping and arson have been severe problems in both woods, making them less attractive and welcoming, and damaging the flora and fauna. The woods lie immediately adjacent to the New Addington Estate and are the closest large open space for most its inhabitants. Despite facilities such as the Discover New Addington trail and an open-air classroom, these problems are a strong deterrent that have prevented many local people from using the woods.
Photograph © Croydon Borough Council
Capital Woodlands at Birch & Rowdown
Through the Capital Woodlands Project, Birch & Rowdown woods have been secured from illegal ingression by cars and bikes and from fly tipping. The installation of fencing and gates now allows pedestrian access only.
This work not only allays the fears of local people but also conserves the excellent flora and fauna. Woodland management, including coppicing, enables the diverse ground flora to flourish and is restoring the nature conservation interest of the wood.
The London Borough of Croydon is working closely with local schools to encourage use of the outdoor classroom and improve the entrances to the woods. The ‘Adopt an Entrance’ project worked with Rowdown Primary School in 2006-07 to create a beautiful new sign at Rowdown Wood.
Photograph © Croydon Borough Council
Other community outreach includes the development of a new leaflet with a map of the woods.
Woodfest is a new community woodland festival held annually on the linking grassland through Capital Woodlands.
Volunteer Opportunities
In 2003 local people formed a new community group, the Addington Conservation Volunteers (ACT). The objective of ACT is to encourage and enable greater family use of the woods. ACT meet regularly to clear rubbish from the wood and undertake conservation activities.
Capital Woodlands supports ACT through the development of its community events programme and the provision of new equipment. This support enables ACT to undertake work on heritage aspects of the woods, for example gathering of archaeological evidence of a medieval building in Birch Wood.
BTCV Croydon also undertakes conservation activities at Birch & Rowdown so there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer.
