Croydon residents have overwhelmingly supported the return of Beavers to South Norwood Country Park, as part of a rewilding project led by Citizen Zoo and the Council.
While 96% of 800 plus residents approved the rewilding scheme, Citizen Zoo has been working through a checklist of reviews, independent and in-house on the park’s suitability.
Recently, areas across London are being considered for, or have already, started rewilding to unexpected benefits, like cows reintroduced to Wild Tolworth or West London’s Ealing Beaver Project.
On the choice of South Norwood, Elliot Newton, rewilding director at Citizen Zoo, put high levels of social deprivation, particularly
“where school children might not have had access to these green spaces before”
as a top reason why the park was chosen.
Newton said:
“What we’re trying to do [… is] demonstrate that nature should be there for everybody.”
He added:
“In terms of a short walk to access a nature rich environment, and particularly, in areas of higher levels of social deprivation. Where [for example] school children might not even have had access to these green spaces before. […] London could be a world leader when it comes to how we embrace the natural world and engage our local communities. “
Newton said the project was moving along a two year timeline, although, currently they’re working with Croydon Council to find funding for the project.
Newton said:
“[Another] big missing piece of the puzzle is the funding component. […] we’re also looking to work with Croydon Council to apply to grant making entities.”
While the Greater London Authority offers several funding pots for social enterprises, like the Greener Roots fund, Newton said it had largely been ruled out due to its competitive application process.
Speaking to South London News about South Norwood, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“Everyone deserves to have access to and enjoy nature, no matter where they live. […] We want to help reconnect people to nature as we continue to build a greener, fairer London for everyone.”
With Croydon’s current issues like high crime rates in its North, the Council’s finances, and London’s increasing cost of living, some local residents at South Norwood said reinvestment was a key part of their approval for rewilding.
Residents at South Norwood told South London News some investment, or Council attention, could be needed too.
The Volunteers at South Norwood:
Trying to find the park’s only cafe, I followed the sound of chatter and children playing while I padded along a single-wide, solitary track with tall shrubs trimmed neatly away on either side.
Suddenly, I burst into an opening, there was a small playground next to a main road, an abandoned visitor centre, and, above all, a local community determined to keep itself alive.
The Kiosk – South Norwood Country Park’s own volunteer-led project, seemed to be a social oasis in an otherwise isolating space.
On arrival I found a fold-out table, its top specked with felt tip pens and rudimentary drawings set out for the kids, their parents, pushchairs, and other park goers like dog walkers, runners, and its only paid staff – a singular groundskeeper, all sat along wooden benches strewn around.
Volunteers from the community around South Norwood seem to be the only thing that keeps its locals coming back despite the park’s size and potential.
One volunteer, Caroline, said:
“I really admire the lady [Veronica] who started it all.”
She added: “For some, it’s a lifeline.”
On the day, The Kiosk’s team of four said they were excited at the possibility of welcoming beavers to South Norwood, along with the potential increase in foot-traffic, although their current focus was on recruiting more volunteers.
Elliot Newton said:
“Before we built into more detailed feasibility, we wanted to see if there was genuine interest and willingness for the local community in terms of buying into such a project.”
Newton added:
“That has been absolutely overwhelming, we’ve been blown away by the positivity and conversations generated and it’s great to see the enthusiasm for it.”
Speaking to local park goers, many were keen for the beaver’s reintroduction, although some held back expectations considering the long timeline ahead – while all agreed the park could do with some attention, economically or otherwise.
With limited facilities like a small car park and toilet, the other aspects of the park’s roughly 125 acre space are managed by a single paid member of staff, according to the Council.
Some residents felt the Council’s engagement with South Norwood Country Park was no better embodied than the six-year closed visitor centre (a result of arson), described as a “sore thumb” by one resident.
Daniel, a local parent enjoying The Kiosk’s services, said:
“It’s always a big sore thumb for everyone who lives here.”
He added:
“Hopefully that [rewilding] would be a massive generation of cash to actually do something.”
Citizen Zoo’s Elliot Newton said:
“We think there’s a huge economic argument to be made for what we call nature-based solutions to climate change, of which this Beaver project is certainly one.”
At the Ealing Beaver Project, Citizen Zoo has claimed a 90% reduction in antisocial behaviour, while there was also money saved in reduced flood risk for the nearby Greenford station.
While many residents made clear that the area was safe, some shared stories of antisocial behaviour. From serious allegations of assault and indecent exposure, to decidedly more mysterious tales of a large sign post (turned totem pole by the local community) that had, according to Daniel, been chopped down and taken away under the cover of darkness.
For other residents, some of their top concerns included the closed visitor centre, maintaining access for locals when the beavers are in place, and the implications of having renewed interest in the area.
On the topic of implementation, Newton was clear that previous projects had centred around the local community, with accessibility strongly considered.
Newton said:
“One of the steps would be building what we’d call a fully accessible enclosure, making sure the beavers were going to be re-instituted into this safe area.”
Newton added once the beavers were in-situ, they would work with specialists like those from the Beaver Trust to meet their needs – all while the beavers steward the park’s biodiversity.
Newton said:
“So in the context of Ealing, where we’ve done this already, we’ve really tried to work with local artists.”
He added:
“The underpass that you’re walking to get into the beaver enclosure has these beautiful beaver murals on them.”
With South London’s reputation for large amounts of green space, Citizen Zoo said they were eager to make use of opportunities where possible.
Newton said:
“As South Londoners, I think we need to recognize the importance of nature.”
He added:
“One thing that showed [the importance of nature] more than anything was during the COVID pandemic. […] I’m really demonstrating nature is not just a ‘nice to have’, but incredibly vital for a healthy community – to be sustainable and to add so much value for locals.”
Veronica, founder of The Kiosk, said they were eager for more volunteers – residents can get in contact via their instagram page.
