PROJECTS

Since 2005 the Friends have been involved in the following Projects

In addition to the annual programme of walks and talks

2005
● Inauguration of the Friends Group during National Archaeology Week at the site of an archaeological survey being carried out on Farthing Downs.

2006
● Friends win a grant for a further archaeological survey on Farthing Downs

● Sponsoring a Beech Tree as part of the restoration of the original seven beech trees, known as the Folly, dating from the 18th century

● Friends organise refurbishment of the damaged Cairn plaque including a fundraising event at the Celebrating Coulsdon Day and opening of the Relief Road on 2nd December

● First Friends Annual BBQ.

2007
● Friends organise Archaeology week at Coulsdon Library including exhibition, talks and Finds Handling Session for children

● Public consultation, including public exhibition, for the refurbishment of the Farthing Downs car park and proposals for new public facilities.

2008
● Family Learning Week, Coulsdon Library: The Friends and Farthing Downs Rangers organise: ‘The Web of Life’ on Farthing Downs – a game devised for children to find out how the environment works

● Library exhibition: ‘Archaeology of the Downs’ and illustrated talk: ‘The Natural History of the Downs’

● Publication of the Archaeological report on surveys carried out in 2005 and 2006.

2009
● Friends committee involved with outline proposals for the refurbishment of the Farthing Downs Car Park

● Friends sponsor and provide information for a new information board

● Friends Fun Day on Farthing Downs – September.

2010
● Friends continue to be involved with the design of new information board for Farthing Downs

● Second Farthing Downs Fun Day (over 1000 local people attend)

● Friends sponsor night time wildlife camera.

2011
● Inaugural AGM and presentation of constitution

● Farthing Downs Fun Day

● Installation of drinking water dish for dogs by the toilet block following request from Friends Committee members.

2012
● Friends of Farthing Downs Website goes on line

● Friends Sunday afternoon Tea Stall on Farthing Downs produces £100 surplus for funds

● Contribution to Association of Croydon Conservation Societies for ‘Green Croydon for All’ leaflet.

2013
● Involvement with planning proposals for Cane Hill and effect on Farthing Downs Exploration into protection of local open spaces

● Support for proposal for a North Downs Country Park

● Friends undertake to raise local awareness of pressures on Green Belt land for development also undertake to keep a watching brief on local authority Green Belt policy.

2014
● Joint gardening project with East Coulsdon RA at Coulsdon South Station begins in February

● Friends produce Station poster publicising Farthing Downs & Happy Valley for permanent display

● Friends sponsor reprint of the Farthing Downs & Happy Valley Nature Trail booklet following refurbishment of the trail

● Trail way markers installed on new trail posts with QR code link to Friends Website (click ‘Nature Trail’ in Contents on left)

● Launch of Map of the Green Belt, compiled by the Friends Chairman Graham Lomas.

2015
● Friends sponsor permanent photographic display at Coulsdon South Station of Happy Valley landscape ‘Through the Seasons’.

2016
● Submission to Tandridge Council’s Draft Local Plan opposing proposals for a housing development on the Surrey National Golf Course, bordering Happy Valley (the proposal was turned down)

● Friends sponsor a new information board for Farthing Downs featuring the Nature Trail and QR code.

2017
● Friends gain a grant from Croydon’s ‘Ambitious for Parks’ project for equipment and materials for improvements to footpaths on Happy Valley

● Agreement at the Friends Annual General Meeting that the Friends of Farthing Downs will officially become ‘Friends of Farthing Downs & Happy Valley’.

2018
● Sponsorship of replacement of the iconic Way Maker for the Folly, Farthing Downs

● Support for proposal by English Nature for Farthing Downs, Happy Valley, Coulsdon Common, Kenley Common and Riddlesdown to be declared a National Nature Reserve in the summer of 2019.

GREENING OF COULSDON SOUTH STATION

The Friends of Farthing Downs entered into a partnership with Southern in 2014 to clear, plant and maintain the platform flowerbeds. In return Southern agreed to a Friends occasional stall at the entrance to platform 1 and a permanent display panel promoting Farthing Downs and Happy Valley at the entrance to platform 2.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAY

In 2015 Southern gave the Friends the go ahead to put a photographic display in Coulsdon South Station Booking Hall. In December a large frieze of photographs of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley through the seasons was in place above the ticket sales window with three other large photographs, one displayed by the entrance and another two by the seating area. A leaflet ‘Valuing Your Local Environment’ to accompany the exhibition is available for commuters.