Cuddington Meadows facts for kids

Cuddington Meadows is a special 1.4-hectare area in Belmont, Sutton that's officially recognized as a Local Nature Reserve. It's also considered a very important place for nature in the borough of Sutton. The Sutton Council owns this land, and they work with local volunteers to take care of it.

Cuddington Meadows: A Special Place for Nature

Cuddington Meadows is a wonderful spot where you can explore nature right in the city! It's a protected area, meaning it's kept safe for all the amazing plants and animals that live there. It's a great example of how we can have green spaces even in busy areas.

A Look Back in Time

This area wasn't always a nature reserve. Long ago, in the early 1800s, maps showed it as two open fields on Banstead Downs. Later, it became part of a farm called Walnut Tree Farm. In 1897, this farm land was used to build Cuddington Hospital. The hospital closed its doors in 1984. Then, in the late 1990s, the land was given to Sutton Council. Their goal was to manage it specifically for nature conservation, turning it into the beautiful reserve we see today.

Amazing Plants and Animals

Cuddington Meadows is mostly made up of chalk grassland. This is a very special type of habitat that grows on chalky soil. You'll also find some scrub areas, which are patches of bushes and small trees.

What makes this place truly unique is its wide variety of unusual flowering plants. Look out for beautiful flowers like greater knapweed, lady's bedstraw, and field scabious. These plants provide food and shelter for many creatures.

The reserve is also a fantastic place for butterflies! So far, sixteen different kinds of butterflies have been seen here. This includes some rare and beautiful species like the tiny small blue butterfly and the bright green green hairstreak. Watching these delicate insects flutter around is a real treat.

How to Visit

If you want to explore Cuddington Meadows, you can easily get there from Cuddington Park Close. It's a great place for a quiet walk and to enjoy the natural world.

Images for kids

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  A view of Cuddington Meadows, a peaceful nature reserve.