Up the road beyond the hustle and bustle of Croydon is one of the area's best kept secrets, north east of the town in Beckenham.

Namely the beautiful wooded oasis that is Kelsey Park.

Understandably Beckenham's pride and joy, it is a gem of a find with its many specimen trees and shrubs, lakes and lawns, wildfowl and water birds.

A park for all seasons and all age-groups, it's sheer tranquility has to be experienced. It is hard to believe it is a stone's throw from busy suburbia.

On my jaunt I enter via the main Manor Way entrance and follow the arrows to the information centre where two friendly volunteers are ready to introduce some of the wildfowl characters from the lakes as they come for their supplementary morning feed.

Another couple feed the wildfowl late every afternoon and welcome visitors to watch the spectacle.

I note they are hampered by fat squirrels scampering to steal the peanuts and grain from eager bills and beaks.

We chat for a while and I then join Liz Anderson, chair of the Friends of Kelsey Park, and Lynn Barton, Information Centre co-manager, who take me on the long tourist trail, on winding paths, past three lakes and through woodland where trees of every kind are home to numerous bird species. These include the rare blue-crowned parakeets and recently spotted tree-creepers.

I soon learn why this group of Friends who continually strive to preserve and improve the park have a thriving and increasing membership.

Historic Landscaping

As a child I visited this park, and returning many years later it is good to see only improvement from dedicated landscaping, conservation and planting.

It's a never-ending job for the voluntary group who work closely with Bromley Council and contractors to maintain the standard.

The 300-year-old London Plane tree is a constant reminder of the original large Kelsey Estate, 21 acres of which was purchased by the council following a vigorous campaign by the editor of the Beckenham Journal who saw the park officially open in May 1913.

It is believed that Humphrey Repton (1752 – 1818), the fashionable landscape architect, formed the upper main lake with waterfall in a re-design.

Some of the present trees would have been planted then and possibly the ice-well built, which I also discover on my walk.

Apparently during the winter when ice formed on the lake it would be collected and stored in the underground well, until required at the mansion house. The mansion, which became an army hospital between 1914 and 1918 and was an Army Service Corp base, was demolished in 1921.

Children's play

From the historic well we walk up to the children's play area complete with modern climbing frames and rides – extremely popular in all weathers.

Until the newly refurbished cafeteria opens (in the old cricket pavilion for those of you who remember) there is a visiting mobile unit providing refreshments.

We stop for a coffee and I notice there are tennis courts in the park and also a mini golf game for warmer days.

We wander down through the cherry blossom walk, which I vow to come back and visit when the blossom is out.

There are a lot of families out walking their dogs, who are only allowed in half of the park, although this still provides more than enough parkland and woods for ample running, fetching and foraging.

Heron watch

I stop and admire the pretty Mandarin ducks, the shy little grebe and spy the herons busy nesting on their central island.

This is another triumph for the Friends who since their formation supported the refurbishment of habitat for the herons and help organise the annual weekend heron watch. This is a major feature and attracts hundreds of visitors who cram the viewing bridges and around to see closely more than 30 pairs of grey herons successfully nesting. It is probably the easiest place to see nesting herons in the south east of England.

This year's watch is on March 27 and 28 from 11am to 4pm.

As in previous years there will be viewing points with telescopes and binoculars and help on hand from volunteers.

Displays, information and leaflets and representatives from Bromley RSPB will also be in attendance.

And for children there will be face painting (wildlife designs) for a small charge.

Look out for...

More than 65 types of bird have been recorded at Kelsey plus numerous waterfowl have made their home there so there's always some new creature to discover. Waterfowl you are likely to see on a visit to Kelsey include Coot, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Greylag, Swan, Heron, Black Headed Gulls, Cormorant, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mandarin, Aylesbury, Muscovy and Ringed Teal.

Information Centre

The Friends are supporters of the nearby Wildlife Lodge and also London Wildcare in Beddington Park who have successfully released rescue ducks at Kelsey.

At weekends when the Information Centre is open, youngsters are welcome to visit the children's corner and colour a picture for the wall. Or they might take one of the bird questionnaires to see what they can spot in the park. Duckling walks, quizzes and colouring competitions along with a junior photographic competition are also planned for later in the year.

Kelsey Park, with its lakes, wildlife, flower beds, spectacular herbaceous border and more than 100 kinds of trees, is a great place to visit at any time of year and perfect for picnics in summer and spring. However, on my outing I do notice one happy family sitting on a bench overlooking the main lake. They are tucking into mince pies and a hot drink – I can't think of a better way to enjoy a winter outing!

The lowdown

Address: Kelsey Park, Manor Way, Beckenham. BR3 3LH

Opening hours: From 7.30am on weekdays and 9am at weekends and on bank holidays. The Friends of Kelsey Park Information Centre is open weekend afternoons.

Getting there: By train – change at East Croydon for Beckenham Junction. By car – via Redhill take Brighton Road into south Croydon and turn right into Coombe Road. Follow the signage through Shirley, Addiscombe, Elmers End, Eden Park and Beckenham. Suggested parking in Manor Way where the main entrance is near the red pillar box.

Patsy Payne