Heavers Meadow is a narrow water meadow (The meadow covers an area of 83⁄4 acres (3.34 hectares). located in South Norwood and Selhurst in the London Borough of Croydon. It lies between small area of allotments and tube train sidings/industrial area. In 1935, the area of Heavers Meadow and the adjacent allotments was passed to Croydon Corporation by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to be used as an open space or recreation ground and allotments.
Before 1900, the western side of the site was wooded and known as Dragnet Wood in 1800 and Selhurst Wood in 1867, by which time it had been split into two parts by railway development.
Norbury Brook runs north west along the south-side of the meadow before being 'culverted' under Selhurst Road. The Brook can be seen later in Thornton Heath Recreation Ground and at the rear of houses in between.
The brook is fenced off for safety reasons; after rainfall, water levels can rise considerably in a very short time as the water drains from surrounding areas.
Species[]
Too small to attract great variety of species, main species Mallard, Moorhen, Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tit, Dunnock,Wren, Robin, Redwing, Collared Dove, Great-spotted Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Starling, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow.
Common Whitethroat heard in the hedge spring 2019.
Black-headed and Herring Gulls etc fly over and perch on lamp posts in railway sidings
Habitat[]
Small strip of marsh/bog with reeds, bull rushes, willows (not enough area of open water to attract duck species other than Mallard) between allotments and railway sidings. Small hedge running down by allotments.
Water meadow seriously dried up during summer of 2020, leaving a dust bowl.
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Michael Mac January 2020