IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Oaks Road, CROYDON, CR0 5HL

Towards the right of picture, and just visible above the skyline, is the arch of Wembley Stadium, 15 miles away. On the extreme left of picture, and a mere 2.5 miles away, are the offices and flats at West Croydon.

On the hottest day on record, eight fire engines (six at Oaks Road) and crews had to brave 100+ degree temperatures whilst tackling a major fire on Shirley Hills (Addington Hills). Heathland areas are dominated by heather and gorse, with some bilberry and goldenrod. Drier spots are indicated by the occurrence of bell heather. Burrowing bees and wasps occur in the bare patches of soil and the bushy heathers and acid-loving grasses provide home to a wide range of insects, spiders and other invertebrates, each well adapted to the warm, dry conditions at ground level. In open areas, common lizards and slow-worms thrive. It is these areas which were destroyed by the fire, but most of the woodland areas remained intact. I arrived about an hour and a half after the first alarm was raised. By this time, the fires had been extinguished and fire crews were damping down. Crews remained on site in case of any flare-ups.

On the hottest day on record, eight fire engines (six at Oaks Road) and crews had to brave 100+ degree temperatures whilst tackling a major fire on Shirley Hills (Addington Hills). Heathland areas are dominated by heather and gorse, with some bilberry and goldenrod. Drier spots are indicated by the occurrence of bell heather. Burrowing bees and wasps occur in the bare patches of soil and the bushy heathers and acid-loving grasses provide home to a wide range of insects, spiders and other invertebrates, each well adapted to the warm, dry conditions at ground level. In open areas, common lizards and slow-worms thrive. It is these areas which were destroyed by the fire, but most of the woodland areas remained intact. I arrived about an hour and a half after the first alarm was raised. By this time, the fires had been extinguished and fire crews were damping down. Crews remained on site in case of any flare-ups.

On the hottest day on record, eight fire engines (six at Oaks Road) and crews had to brave 100+ degree temperatures whilst tackling a major fire on Shirley Hills (Addington Hills). Heathland areas are dominated by heather and gorse, with some bilberry and goldenrod. Drier spots are indicated by the occurrence of bell heather. Burrowing bees and wasps occur in the bare patches of soil and the bushy heathers and acid-loving grasses provide home to a wide range of insects, spiders and other invertebrates, each well adapted to the warm, dry conditions at ground level. In open areas, common lizards and slow-worms thrive. It is these areas which were destroyed by the fire, but most of the woodland areas remained intact. I arrived about an hour and a half after the first alarm was raised. By this time, the fires had been extinguished and fire crews were damping down. Crews remained on site in case of any flare-ups.

On the hottest day on record, eight fire engines and crews had to brave 100+ degree temperatures whilst tackling a major fire on Shirley Hills (Addington Hills). Heathland areas are dominated by heather and gorse, with some bilberry and goldenrod. Drier spots are indicated by the occurrence of bell heather. Burrowing bees and wasps occur in the bare patches of soil and the bushy heathers and acid-loving grasses provide home to a wide range of insects, spiders and other invertebrates, each well adapted to the warm, dry conditions at ground level. In open areas, common lizards and slow-worms thrive. It is these areas which were destroyed by the fire, but most of the woodland areas remained intact. I arrived about an hour and a half after the first alarm was raised. By this time, the fires had been extinguished and fire crews were damping down. Crews remained on site in case of any flare-ups.

Largely oak woodland near the top of the hill, there is a current programme to remove much of the encroaching holly. Further down the hill, timber from the management has been stacked, prior to removal.

Looking between the log piles, across Oaks Road, towards the distant Canary Wharf.

Log pile, from recent forestry work.

Seen after the first snowfall of winter.

Largely oak woodland near the top of the hill, there is a current programme to remove much of the encroaching holly. Further down the hill, timber from the management has been stacked, prior to removal.