Parks and playgrounds directory

Location

Forestdale, Ladygrove.

Area

1/4 acres 0.10 hectares.

Facilities

• Woodland open space

History

A woodland called Lady Grove appears on a number of 19th-century maps of Selsdon, originally it was a small wood in the middle of fields to the north of Selsdon Woods.  As Selsdon developed the buildings gradually encroached upon Lady Grove and when Wates the developers started on their Forestdale Estate they zoned what remained of the wood as a children's playground.  

The playground was designed for creative play and was presented to the Council by a subsidiary of Wates, Fernwood Estates Ltd., in 1977.  The playground was finally transferred to the Council in 1980 but constant misuse and abuse of the equipment by older children and youths resulted in the playground being demolished in 1983 and the area being grassed over.  

Like the Primrose, Wood Anemone, and Violet, the Bluebell is able to compete with the tall bracken and brambles which cover the ground later in the season.