Happy Valley SSSI/NNR

Three Herdwick sheep grazing in an autumn field, surrounded by golden grasses.

A Big Chalk Project

Happy Valley SSSI/NNR

Lead organisation

Croydon Council

Partner organisations

Surrey Countryside Partnerships

Project description

Happy Valley is Croydon Council's largest open space and, together with the neighbouring Farthing Downs, comprises the largest area of chalk grassland within Greater London. It is home to important plant and invertebrate species, including 12 species of orchid and most of the UK's population of Greater Yellow Rattle. There is an important ancient woodland, home to a population of hazel dormice.

The objective is to create a balance between management for public amenity and nature conservation, fulfilling the needs of visitors while protecting a nationally important wildlife site.

We encourage visitors from a diverse range of backgrounds, ages and abilities, including from within the more urban areas of the capital.

Our QR audio nature trail, narrated by celebrities like Joanna Lumley, Tony Robinson, and Benjamin Zephaniah, alongside a diverse range of volunteer speakers offering translations in Hindi, Polish, and French, brings nature to life for everyone.

Project location

Happy Valley is located on the southern edge of London, on the border with Surrey. It offers a great opportunity to engage with a large population, including those with limited access to high quality greenspace.

Contribution to Big Chalk

The ongoing management of the Happy Valley SSSI/NNR, coupled with meaningful engagement with a diverse range of visitors and local people, fits well with Big Chalk’s vision.

Happy Valley is a proposed addition to the Surrey Hills National Landscape and there are plans to create a Green Community Hub on site.

Read more
A vibrant Pyramidal Orchid with cone-shaped purple flowers growing in a chalk grassland, surrounded by green grasses and wildflowers.
A Marbled White butterfly perched on a purple scabious flower, with its distinct black and white patterned wings.
A close-up of a Greater Yellow Rattle plant, featuring bright yellow flowers and green foliage.
A dormouse nestled in a bird's nest, surrounded by twigs and leaves.
A wooden post with trail wayfinding markers and a QR code to scan, promoting the nature trail podcast voiced by Joanna Lumley.
A lush green field filled with cowslips, under a small blue sky with scattered clouds.

Have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?

The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.

If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.

Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.

Register your project
By Croydon Council
20 November 2024

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