Happy Valley Park facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Greater London |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 67.2 hectares |
| Notification | 1987 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Happy Valley Park is a public park in Coulsdon in the London Borough of Croydon. It is owned and managed by Croydon Council. Located in the Green Belt, most of it forms part of the Farthing Downs and Happy Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The 67 hectare site is a steeply sided valley with large areas of grassland and wooded slopes. The diverse chalk grasslands on the eastern and north-western sides are rich in many species of herb which are uncommon in London, and the nationally scarce man orchid and round-headed rampion have also been recorded. Devilsden Wood on the western side has a canopy of ash, oak and hazel. Trees such as midland hawthorn and plants such as sweet woodruff are characteristic of ancient woodlands.
History
The site was purchased in 1937 by the former Coulsdon and Purley Council as a link between Farthing Downs and Coulsdon Common under the Green Belt scheme. The name Happy Valley was adopted in 1970.
Access
There is access from Fox Lane, off Coulsdon Road, and from Farthing Downs. The London Loop goes through the park.
