CROYDON TOWN CENTRE (ENGLAND)

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

What a sunny day. It was and it is indeed!

Croydon is a major commercial centre in South London and and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the new Strategic Planning by the Greater London Authority.

The town has a centre , which is an attraction for people and is travel either by a public transportation or a private vehicle. If you travel by car, a pay & display area is designated in the place and it is a must to pay for a time-monitored ticket. If you don't want to receive a penalty-noticed and force to pay the fine indicated on it!

The town centre has two known and visited areas, the High Street and the Public Market...

The HIGH STREET has buildings & descent-sized units occupied by corporate mall owners and independent proprietors; benches are made for weary people to sit & relax or to wait for their family and friends; trees and birds are of great help in adding green life to the entire environment.

Most people spent their time by entering malls and stores. These are shoppers! Clearance or reduced items are treat to one’s swipe, however, there is a need to rummage each clothes rack for the possible sizes and styles! Fast foods, restaurants and pubs are just around the corner for the needy, hungry stomach.

Walking from one corner to another enable to enter another shop/store in the building is not a problem at all. Mostly are linked and are provided with an electronic monitored portal to enter another shop easily. It is considered a mixed town, you will encounter people in the centre of different nationalities, traits and aura that go for a walk or a shopping. There are lots of things to do and enjoy when you step-on the ground of the town center itself!

Aside from the High Street that has buildings, which provide/sell shoes, clothes etc.,PUBLIC MARKET is another visited area too. It is nearby the central library and is like a compound where independent vendors sell freshly-harvested fruits, vegetables for cooking ingredients, household materials, clothes and shoes at very reasonable and affordable prices.

I had a delightful time in the centre, as each complexion is not considered a fang to one’s eye that is to be frightened for!

BEDDINGTON PARK: A HIDDEN GEM IN SOUTH LONDON

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

(Beddington Park Flowing River)

The sun was out and the surroundings were bathed in its warm rays. Naturally, locals were out and about taking advantage of the feisty warm weather that happened all of a sudden. Even I was amongst the ones who stepped out of our den and decided to stroll around the nearby park. That day was a blessing for all of us who yearn so much for tropical weather in this cold country.

Last Sunday afternoon, I visited Beddington park and savoured the fresh air as well as the warm sunshine for hours. I then explored the entire park on foot and came across lines of baronial trees; an old historical church with its graveyard full of ancient stones with their faded inscriptions from loved ones; cafés and sport fields. It wasn’t my first visit but to be charmed from time to time, I can now say that it is one of the hidden gems in South London.

 (Summer/Spring and Autumn pictures)

Beddington park is very vast in area and very green too especially in Summer. It is nearly 100 acres or almost 41 hectares in total, which spreads out between Croydon and Sutton and is maintained by Sutton Borough. I read on the web, that this was originally part of a deer park attached to Carew Manor. Which in Tudor times occupied a large swathe of land between the present Mitcham Common, Beddington Lane, Croydon Road and London Road. That was the past!

In 1935, this beautiful park was acquired by the Borough of Beddington & Wallington and turned into a public park for people to bask around its health friendly green acres.

 
Today, Beddington park has well- preserved gardens including the small kidney-shaped pond in the north and the main lake in the south west of the park. Moreover, it has attractive ornamental bridges, facilities and is also the home to most wildlife in the U.K. What I adored about this place is its large area of open grassland, the lake as well as the pond. If I could, I would love to live there and treat it as my humble abode (LOL!).

This upcoming Spring and Summer, don’t hesitate nor think twice about a visit to this park in South London. It is just 5 minutes walk from Hackbridge Station and 30 minutes walk from Wallington Station. And if you are driving, a car park which opens from 8:00 A.M. to nightfall is also waiting for you and, is absolutely free of charge!

See you there!

THE MAYFIELD LAVENDER

by:  MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

Gardens are an area where we grow and nurture varieties of plants; flowering and fruit-bearing. Most of the houses in England have their own front and rear garden, usually, the owners grow flowers in front of the house and at the back is the fruit-bearing and vegetable area .

Lavender is one of the 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family. The scent gives fresh fragrance and deters moths. The plant produces flowers which are collected to form a kind of confetti for the bride's special day.
 

Mayfield Lavender is located on the Surrey Downs, at the junction between Croydon Lane and Carshalton Road. This field is less than 15 miles from Central London. It measures 25 acres and is the home of the English Lavender. It is often confused with a small allotment project locally and is often referred as Carshalton Lavender, Mitcham Lavender or Surrey Lavender as it is located in the heart where lavender was grown in the 18th and 19th century.

The 25 acre Lavender field is own by a passionate couple, Brendan and Lorna. The couple's commitment not to use pesticides or herbicides on the plants make it a good source of some of the finest oil. And, nothing but organic matter is used in the field!
 

The fragrant flowers are not just for vases that are placed in the living room, as it is has a few functions too. Its flower has a fresh and relaxing flavour when added to drinking tea. The oil extracted from its buds is an ingredient in many perfumes, balms and cosmetic applications. And, it is also used in making facial and bath soaps that are ideal fragrant gift for your loved-ones or as a keepsake for your friends and visitors. Some people place the soap in their undies draw!

The lavender plant is abundant in the United Kingdom. It grows in April or May as it needs dry and sunny conditions to thrive and produce its fragrant flowers. When it produces flowers, it is a sure sign that summer is underway, and the cold days of Christmas are memories' best forgotten.