A woman is standing on a woodland path holding her phone up to take a photo of the trees

Bramley Bank

Photo credit: Eve Edwards

A path going through a woodland with bracken and trees either side

Bramley Bank, Photo credit: Eve Edwards

Bluebells at Bramley Bank credit Mathew Frith

Bramley Bank

Restored woodland and heathland in Croydon which typifies London’s semi-natural habitats, providing a home for stag beetles and woodpeckers.

Location

Riesco Drive

Croydon

CR2 7LG

Know before you go

Size

10 hectares

Parking information

Street parking available on Riesco Drive and Broadcoombe

Grazing animals

Grazing horses in neighbouring field

Walking trails

A public right of way, the London Outer Orbital Path, runs through the reserve.

Access

Bramley Bank is located in the borough of Croydon, in the Addington Hills. There are two entrances, one off Riesco Drive and one in Broadcoombe. Tramlink services stop at Coombe Lane, a five-minute walk from the entrance at Riesco Drive. Bus service 466 also travels along Coombe Lane.

The paths are generally level with shallow inclines, but the entrances can be muddy and uneven, particularly near the pond and the Broadcoombe entrance. There is a narrow kissing gate at Riesco Drive which is unsuitable for wheelchairs.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to July, September to November

About the reserve

Nestled between Addington Hills and Littleheath Wood is this enchanting oak woodland, with supporting relic heathland and acid grassland communities. Trees here include birch, oak and ash, with springtime displays of bluebell and dog violet. Bramley Bank also boasts the largest woodland pond in Croydon, which is of special wildlife value. The acid grassland clearing supports a range of bird, butterfly and flower species. The reserve has been managed on behalf of Croydon Council since 1986.

History of Bramley Bank

The woodland here now has grown after the 1930s, but species indicative of ancient woodland are present. The boundary of Bramley Bank remains the same as it did in 1890. The area was then more like open parkland and formed part of the Heathfield Estate, owned by the Riesco family. Many of the Austrian pines, sweet chestnut and beech trees had by then been planted and the pond dug.

Management of Bramley Bank

We are cutting and clearing invading scrub to protect the lowland heath and acid grassland, in addition to undertaking more selective heathland restoration works by harvesting heather brash and seeds from neighbouring heathland sites for sowing on our reserve. Remnant cherry laurel characteristic of the site’s historic associations is being cleared, along with sycamore encroachment from the woodland understory.