After Wandle Park, seen in an earlier post, part of the River Wandle can be viewed at Waddon Ponds which act as one of the sources of the River. I have never previously visited the Ponds despite passing very close by on many occasions when visiting nearby motor trade counters or a parcels depot. The Ponds are tucked away down a narrow road off the main A23 (Purley Way)….surrounded on three sides by suburban housing & on the fourth by a small complex of light industrial type units. The main entrance is in Mill Lane & that gives a clue to one of the former uses.
The Ponds are home to a variety of waterfowl. A great number of geese but also ducks, coots & moorhens.
They do, however, rather congregate around the viewing/feeding platform on the Western bank.
The grounds generally are very well kept with no evidence of the sort of misuse often experienced by urban parks.
At the southern end the main pond splits into two short stubby “fingers” each bridged at the point of the join, which allow a pleasant circumnavigation of the water. The two smaller ponds formed, made for a tranquil backwater feel in the evening sun…
The geese, at least, find it restful
Generally the “natives” are friendly
The banks have recently been re-planted to stabilise them which explains the wire fencing designed to be geese proof so they do not eat the new plants….
View from the main entrance
eagleash 