Farthing Downs

Farthing Downs is a protected chalk grassland site in Coulsdon representing the largest remaining area of semi-natural downland in Greater London. The landscape spreads across rolling hills with sections of ancient woodland interspersed throughout, and harbors plant species that are increasingly rare in the region.

Archaeologists discovered sixteen Anglo-Saxon burial mounds within two separate cemeteries at the site, with initial excavations conducted in 1871 and further investigations during the 1940s. These findings suggest that the location held significance for communities more than a thousand years ago.

During the 1800s, horse trainers used these downs to exercise and train their racehorses, taking advantage of the rolling terrain. This sporting heritage shaped how people understood and used the land for generations.

Access to the site is available from Downs Road, where visitors will find clear entry points for walking. The London LOOP trail passes through, providing a well-marked route for exploring the grassland on foot.

Sheep and cattle graze across the site to maintain the grassland, a practice brought back after farming changes and declining rabbit populations altered how the land naturally managed itself. This grazing system plays a central role in keeping the grassland healthy and biodiverse.