Editing Carshalton (section)

=== Sutton Ecology Centre ===
The [[Sutton Ecology Centre Grounds|Sutton Ecology Centre]] is located in the Carshalton Village part of Sutton borough.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1627 |title=London Borough of Sutton – Sutton Ecology Centre |publisher=Sutton.gov.uk |access-date=26 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203101923/https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1627 |archive-date=3 February 2015  }}</ref> The Grounds are a 1.3 hectare [[Local Nature Reserve]] and [[Site of Nature Conservation Interest|Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation]], Grade 1. It is owned by Sutton Council and managed by the Council together with Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers – SNCV.<ref name=LNR>{{cite web|url=http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?ID=%20444 |title=Sutton Ecology Centre Grounds |series=Local Nature Reserves |publisher=Natural England |date=7 March 2013 |access-date=29 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329184530/http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?ID=%20444 |archive-date=29 March 2014  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271009760%27|title=Map of Sutton Ecology Centre Grounds|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| access-date= 29 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=GIGL>{{cite web|url=http://www.gigl.org.uk/online/site-Details.aspx?sID=SuBI03&sType=sinc|title=Sutton Ecology Centre|publisher=Greenspace Information for Greater London|year=2013|access-date=29 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329191920/http://www.gigl.org.uk/online/site-Details.aspx?sID=SuBI03&sType=sinc|archive-date=29 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It is an area of mainly open space where visitors can find out about wildlife habitats, alternative energy, recycling, composting, and organic gardening. The centre's activities include running educational visits for schools and community groups, as well as events and volunteer days.

The history of the Ecology Centre is that the grounds were until the late eighties known as the "Lodgelands", named after the old gardens of The Lodge in Carshalton. They were used as a tree nursery until the early eighties, when they became surplus to requirements. After a prolonged public debate, it was agreed in 1987 to preserve the area as an open space for public use.