Chapel Bank

People walking along a path surrounded by lush summer vegetation

Chapel Bank

Photo credit: Eve Edwards

Chapel Bank

A secluded chalk grassland reserve and butterfly spotter’s paradise.

Location

Featherbed Lane,
New Addington
Croydon
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A static map of Chapel Bank

Know before you go

Size
13 hectares
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Access

Bus: 64, 664 (Kennelwood Cresent)

Tram: New Addington (20-min walk)

The route from Threecorner Grove to Chapel Bank is across a narrow winding road with busy traffic. Street parking is available in North Downs Road and Thorpe Close.

Dogs

image/svg+xmlOn a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

Chapel Bank’s expanse of dry chalk valley is a great place to find orchids, rare grasses and blankets of bluebells. You’ll find an area of ancient woodland, scrub and chalk grassland, spiked with orchids. In spring and summer swathes of wildflowers which attract many species of butterfly.

History

Chalk grassland develops on shallow lime-rich chalky soils that are nutrient-poor and free-draining, and in London this internationally important habitat is predominantly found in the southern parts of the boroughs of Bromley, Croydon and Sutton.

This part of the North Downs was traditionally grazed by sheep until the 1950s, but changes occurred as new settlements such as New Addington and Forestdale developed. London Wildlife Trust began managing Chapel Bank in 1984 and nearby reserve Hutchinson’s Bank in 1987. Grazing was re-introduced to Hutchinson’s in 1995, and Chapel Bank in 2011, for the first time in half-a-century. Another reserve Threecorner Grove was included into the reserves’ management in 1997, as was the verge alongside Featherbed Lane north of Hutchinson’s Bank.

Status

Part Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, Metropolitan Green Belt

Get involved

Volunteer

Find out more about volunteering on our nature reserves and how to apply here.

Record your sightings

Record species you've spotted.

Contact us

Simon Hawkins
Contact number: 07772 821134