Anton Crescent Wetland LNR

Anton Crescent Wetland LNR

Anton Crescent Wetland was officially opened as a Local Nature Reserve in June 2007 by Deputy Mayor Cllr Brendon Hudson.

Habitats Pond, neutral grassland, reedbed, hedgerows, wetland

Species House sparrow, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch, long-tailed tit, green sandpiper, common snipe

Location Anton Crescent, SM1

Access This site is closed to the public. However, we sometimes hold events here.

Site status Local Nature Reserve, Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation (Grade I)

Size 1.1 ha

Disabled access Yes, limited access. Contact SNCV for access information.

Facilities None on site

Map references TQ 252 565

Dogs No dogs allowed on site.

Transport By bus 80, S3. West Sutton Train station is a 15 min walk away.

Although Anton Crescent may be a relatively small reserve, it has one of the densest reedbeds in Sutton. Reedbeds are fairly uncommon in Sutton and London in general. They are a declining habitat within Britain and provide a valuable habitat for many specialist species. Reedbeds provide a feeding area for many more common species, as well as acting as a filtration system, providing cleaner water after it has slowly trickled through the reed’s root system.

At Anton Crescent, areas of marginal vegetation around the open water and the dense nature of the willow carr root system provides plenty of cover and the small open pools of shallow water and damp mud provide feeding stations for over wintering green sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) and common snipe (Gallinago gallinago). The patches of bramble and the reed bed provide lots of cover and feeding opportunities for small perching birds. House sparrows (Passer domesticus), great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Parus caeruleus) are common all year round. In the winter months, flocks (technically ‘charms’) of gold finch (Carduelis carduelis) and small family groups of long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) add a lovely sound and sight to the wetland. Thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, we are discovering more and more species that either live on or use the site.

Anton Crescent Wetlands is used as a Flood Storage Wash by the Environment Agency for the Pyl Brook. The underlying Oxford Clay ensures that the pond holds water in even the driest of summers. The Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers have been carrying out management work on site since 1989. The main aim of the management work is to halt the natural succession of plants and trees and to maintain the open water areas.

Wildlife and habitats

The areas of marginal vegetation around the open water and the dense nature of the willow carr root system provides plenty of cover and the small open pools of shallow water and damp mud provide feeding stations for over wintering green sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) and common snipe (Gallinago gallinago).

Here you can just about see the characteristic square white rump of the green sandpiper above and the beautifully camouflaged snipe below.

Green Sand
Green Sandpiper © Peter Alfrey
Common Snipe © Peter Alfrey
Common Snipe © Peter Alfrey

Reedbeds are uncommon in Sutton and London in general. They are a declining habitat within Britain and provide a valuable habitat for many specialist species. They provide a feeding area for many more common species, as well as acting as a filtration system, providing cleaner water after it has slowly trickled through the reed’s root system.

The areas of bramble and the reed bed provide lots of cover and feeding opportunities for small perching birds. House sparrows (Passer domesticus), great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Parus caeruleus) are common all year round. In the winter months, flocks (technically ‘charms’) of gold finch Carduelis carduelis and small family groups of long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) add a lovely sound and sight to the wetland. Thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, we are discovering more and more species that either live on or use the site.

Long tailed Tit
Long-tailed Tit © Peter Alfrey

Site Management

The Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers have been carrying out management work on site since 1989. The main aim of the management work is to halt the natural succession of plants and trees and to maintain the open water areas. Unfortunately, a lack of resources led to under-management of the site for several years, leading to an explosion in the size of the willow carr area and lots of bramble dominating the meadow.

Since 2005, we have taken a far more active role in improving the site for wildlife and use by people and schools. This has involved mowing the rank grassland to remove brambles and coppicing the willow carr area, as well as instigating a rotational cutting regime for the reedbed. Since 2006 we have been laying parts of the hedge that runs along the new boardwalk footpath. This allows views of the site from the top of the meadow, as well as creating a varied habitat structure for plants and animals.

Volunteer with us to protect this nature reserve in Sutton for generations to come.