Forestdale is linked to Croydon via Addington by Featherbed Lane which skirts the suburb to one side. The area we now know as Forestdale was open land which during 1920 and 1924, was acquired by the Surrey Garden Village Trust and divided into half acre plots to be used as smallholding’s by ex servicemen and others for the determinations of  food production and village industries. These uses never really fully materialised as most were acquired for residential reasons instead. The land was more a hobby and trade with the smallholders was limited to a humble shed more comparable an allotment. A flint road was laid down by the Trust alongside some ancient yew trees, hence Yew Tree Way, and the track to Baker Boy Lane ( now Courtwood Lane ) was similarly made up. Addington Small Holders Ltd. needed a High Court Case in 1966 to obtain the right to sell the properties. Construction of the Forestdale Estate started in 1966/1967 by Fernwood Estates and Wates, the builders, with the adjacent Selsdon Vale estate being built by Wimpeys and Ashen Vale by Aubrey Estates. By 1975 some 2051 properties had been built on the 174 acres of land that is Forestdale today, with approximately 2550 having been completed by the time the last builders left.

The distinguishing characteristic of the area consists of cul-de-sacs running off four main roads, the cul-de-sacs being subdivided into several ‘neighbourhoods’. All houses within a cul-de-sac are of the same style, but differ from other cul-de-sacs in style and materials, such as weatherboard, brick colour and arrangement, and so uniformity of style is achieved within one cul-de-sac but differs from all others. This style is not to every one’s taste.

One more mark of distinction was the award-winning introduction in 1972, by the construction firm, Wates Group, of solar heating panels in three houses in one of the areas.
The Forestdale Estate is a large private residential estate on the edge of the London Borough of Croydon, 4km. south of Croydon town centre. Forestdale is a great place to live. It has an ideal location, handily bordering on one of the greatest cities in the world, London, and also neighboring to some very pleasant Surrey countryside. It has easy transport links to London and the rest of the UK, and an inherent ‘greenness’ was retained in its original development.

The main three roads through the estate, Courtwood Lane, Pixton Way and Bardolph Avenue are publicly adopted roads. A number of public footpaths and bridle ways also go through the estate. Branching off these three public roads are a total of 21 distinct areas or smaller estates, almost all of which are on private land. Osward is a large area of the estate that is publicly adopted as are parts of Markfield. Forestdale is a residential district between Selsdon and Addington. Built around the 1960’s, it has local shops and many community activities.
In all the other areas, the smaller estate area is managed by a private management company. These management company areas are funded by all the properties in that area paying a communal maintenance fee that covers the maintenance of the communal areas.

Most management companies employ a managing agent to undertake the maintenance work and the company is overseen by an elected board of resident trustee directors which are elected onto the board by the residents in each area. The maintenance charge is in addition to the local council tax.
Forestdale has the advantages of being located in the greenery near a nature reserve with diverse walks, as well as being close to several golf courses. It is also connected with Tramlink, and is linked through several frequent bus services, all of which contributes to the desirability of living in the area for some. Its not quite city living but if you love the countrysidede but crave the city services, Forestdale living may be a good compromise for you.