The Friends of Croham Hurst woods was started by me and a good friend not long after I was elected as a councillor in 2002.
One of our first projects after our clearance of the bank outside the railings on Upper Selsdon road was the restoration of the small meadow shown on old maps. Working with the brilliant Downland Trust in 2004 we cleared over 30 years of scrub.
The first year was bare earth followed by huge thistles. Year on year there has been something new and it has become a haven for bees and butterflies and lizards and has been praised by the Butterfly Trust.
This year has been stunning with Giant Bellflower, red clover, knapweed and clumps of marjoram among the plants.
Every year it’s cut down with all the grass removed and put to bed for winter thanks to the fantastic work of FCHWS volunteers
Twenty years ago we couldn’t have dreamt it would be such a success and thanks to everyone for their hard work.
