Inventory Site Record

The name Little Heath appears on a map of 1800 suggesting that there was once less woodland in the area. Littleheath Woods is the collective name for Littleheath Wood, Foxearth Woods, part of Queenhill Shaw and part of Gee Wood. The land was purchased in 1932, largely acquired through the efforts of Malcolm Sharp and the Commons and Footpath Preservation Society. Littleheath Wood was once used for shooting, and a pheasantry was established north of Queenhill Shaw. A bridle path runs through the centre of the woods to Lloyd Park.

Previous / Other name:

Littleheath Wood, Foxearth Woods, Queenhill Shaw, Gee Wood

Site location:

Croham Valley Road/Littleheath Road, Edgecoombe

Postcode:

CR2 8EP

What 3 Words:

action.nests.effort

Type of site:

Public Open Land

Borough:

Croydon

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Woodland walks, bridle path, children's playground

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: South Croydon then bus.

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Research updated:

01/04/2017

Last minor changes:

29/03/2026

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.croydon.gov.uk

This is the collective name for a number of small woods: Littleheath Wood, Foxearth Wood, part of Queenhill Shaw and part of Gee Wood. Most of the land was acquired through the efforts of Malcolm Sharp and the Commons and Footpath Preservation Society, and the land was purchased in 1932 for £1849, part was in Croydon, and part in Coulsdon and Purley Urban District. Littleheath Wood was used for shooting and a pheasantry was established north of Queenhill Shaw; laurel and privet were planted as cover for game. A bridle path through the centre of the woods runs to Lloyd Park (q.v.) in the north and Selsdon Woods (q.v.) in the south. This path was once fenced to keep the game in the woods.

The name Little Heath appears on a map of 1800, which suggests that there was less woodland in the area. Gruttendens Field was open land in 1800 and still shown as a field a century later, showing that the birch woodland has grown up since 1900. Gee Wood, south-east of the field, once had three ponds that are still discernable today. One of the ponds served livestock in Gruttendens Field and another served Gee Bank, now built over as Foxearth Road. The pond meant that the rear garden fences of several of the properties were diverted from an otherwise straight line. The length of the wood straddles the parish boundary and later the County Borough boundary, and there are a number of 1928 boundary markers. Through the site run Vanguard Long Distance Path, and London Capital Outer Orbital. Friends of Littleheath Woods have written a management plan for the site and the group is active in its maintenance.

Sources consulted:

Winterman, M A, Croydon's parks: an illustrated history (LB Croydon, 1988) p 53

Grid ref:

TQ351628 (535114,162828)

Size in hectares:

25.9

Site ownership:

LB Croydon

Site management:

Parks and Open Spaces. Friends of Littleheath Woods

Date(s):

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Borough Importance I (woods)

Green Belt:

Yes

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None