You may or may not know that over the summer Ashburton Park celebrated its 100th birthday… You also may or may not know, there is a group called Friends of Ashburton Park that helps care for this historic and popular green space. Good timing, we thought to catch up with the group’s chair, Mary Guruparan, to find out more about the park’s history as well as how you can volunteer.

Croydonist: Who are the Friends of Ashburton Park (FOAP) and can anyone join?

Mary: FOAP is a group made up of local residents and others who come together for the benefit of the park. Anyone can join as long as they share our love of Ashburton Park and nature. They must also have mutual respect for others and nature.

Croydonist: What are the group’s aims, and what do you do for the park on a regular basis?

Mary: Our aims are to improve Ashburton Park for its users and nature so that it becomes a place of enjoyment and relaxation. We currently run regular gardening and litter picking sessions. We also report to the Council anything that requires attention. The aim is to run other events in the park as its redevelopment takes shape from 2026. We are currently working with the Council to get more equipment installed in the children’s playground.

Croydonist: Can you give us a bit of history about the park? We hear it turned 100 over the summer.

Mary: Ashburton Park originated as part of the Stroud Green Estate, a notable feature of Croydon’s rural landscape during the 17th century. By the 18th century, the estate had become a prominent landmark with the construction of Stroud Green Manor House, a grand Georgian residence surrounded by ornamental gardens, a kitchen garden, agricultural lands, and a picturesque lake. The estate’s head gardener, who lived in the building now known as Park Lodge, oversaw the grounds. It then became an orphanage, hospital and convent before it was sold.

The park’s creation was part of a broader movement to provide urban populations with recreational areas, influenced by the Victorian and Edwardian ideals of public health and well-being. It was sold to the council and opened to the public as a formal park in August 1925.

Croydonist: Can you tell us something quirky about the park our readers may not know.

Mary: Ashburton Hall was supposed to be one of four identical buildings; the original plans were to create buildings in a square shape with a courtyard in the middle. However, only one side was ever built, which still stands today. If it had been built it would have been where the playground is now.

I have also been told there is an underground tunnel in the park but I have not seen it!

Croydonist: What’s your favourite thing about being part of the group?

Mary: I enjoy taking care of and giving back to the park for all the years it has steadfastly provided us often with a means of escape from a very busy human world. It has also enabled me to meet many lovely people in the local community and wider Croydon.

Croydonist: What events have you got coming up?

Mary: We have a monthly gardening group through the milder months and some adhoc gardening projects, information can be found on our social media platforms. There are also lots of exciting new activities planned for next year like a community archaeology project, family nature activities and heritage walks. Additionally, there are many volunteering opportunities that come with training, including how to become a history researcher!

Thanks to Mary for chatting with us.

Stay up to date with Friends of Ashburton Park by following their Facebook or Instagram or by emailing Trudi.wilkinson@croydon.gov.uk to be added to the Council’s mailing list.

If you are interested in becoming a FOAP volunteer you can find out more here.

More about the history of Ashburton Park is on the FOAP website here.

Images courtesy of FOAP – images 1 to 5 by Glenn Foster.

Posted by Julia