Nature Conservation Lewisham

Friends groups are made up of volunteers who wish to have a say in how their local parks and nature reserves are maintained, developed and used.  Some of these groups are constituted and organise entertainment and conservation activities as well as apply for funding to make improvements.  They work in partnership with the local authority.

Below is a list of parks and nature reserves that have active ‘Friends Groups’ which you can join.

PARKS

The Parks are managed by Glendale Grounds Management, the London Borough of Lewisham’s Contractors.  Together, Lewisham Council and Glendale have established a number of ‘green space’ user or friends groups to actively involve the local community in the daily life of the park or open space.  Thanks to the work of these groups a number of parks have been successful in obtaining Green Flag status.

There are parks user groups established for the following parks:

Beckenham Place Park 

The park has a variety of habitats for wildlife and plants and is a listed Local Nature Reserve. Woodland, grassland/meadow, River and ponds. 

To get involved please contact the Friends of Beckenham Place Park

Blythe Hill Fields

 
The Friends of Blythe Hill Fields (FBHF), formally Blythe Hill Fields User Group, exists to represent everyone living around or using Blythe Hill Fields. Our purpose is to achieve sustainable improvements and facilities in this vital resource for the benefit of the whole community. We aim to promote the increased use and enjoyment of this essential open space.   To get involved, please contact the Friends of Blythe Hill Fields (photo M.Jenkins)

 Chinbrook Meadows

 

 The scheme to naturalise the Quaggy river channel through Chinbrook Meadows was completed in the summer of 2002. Works included breaking the river out of its concrete corridor and allowing it to flow more naturally through the park, thus reintroducing river bank areas to encourage wildlife. The scheme includes the creation of boardwalks and bridges to enable visitors to interact better with the river.

Downham Woodland Walk

The Woodland Walk is a narrow strip of woodland, most of which is considered to be ancient in origin. It zigzags between the houses of Downham for just over one and a half kilometres. The Green Chain Walk runs along the length of the site, on its way between Beckenham Place Park and Hither Green nature reserve.

Forster Memorial Park

Forster Memorial Park is a popular public park off Whitefoot Lane. It is unusual in that the central area of amenity grassland is surrounded by a ring of relict ancient woodland.

Hilly Fields 

The summit of Hilly Fields stands 175 feet above sea level and commands excellent views over Lewisham and the City.  To get involved please contact the Friends of Hilly Fields

Ladywell Fields

Ladywell Fields form a valuable green corridor running adjacent to Lewisham High Street. A public foot and cycle path, with street lighting, runs the length of the park and forms an integral section of the Waterlink Way, which starts at Deptford Creek and runs south to the coast at Eastbourne.  You can read about the planned improvements for the park here. You can get involved in the group via the Ladywell Village Improvement Group

For information on the QUERCUS project

Ladywell and Brockley Cemeteries

The FOBLC is a voluntary group dedicating to helping protect and improve these beautiful and historic cemeteries.

For more information go to www.foblc.org.uk

Manor House Gardens

A successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Board has enabled the restoration of the gardens and its built facilities. Works included the re-establishment of the original vistas from the Manor House, the introduction of a walled flower garden, the restoration of the lake and installation of a fountain.

 Mayow Park

Mayow Park, originally named Sydenham Recreation Ground, is the borough’s oldest municipal park. The park is home to the Mayow Park Bowls Club, has two tennis courts and a refurbished children’s playground. The central field is an ideal venue for recreation and public events. To get involved please contact the Friends of Mayow Park

Or follow them at their Facebook Page

Northbrook Park

The site of Northbrook Park was a field known as the Ten-Acre Field, although in fact it was nearer nine acres.  The field formed part of the Baring estates in Lee, and in 1898 Lord Northbrook offered to present it for public use, in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. A sundial marks Lord Northbrook’s gift.   To get involved please contact the Northbrook Park Community Group  Or follow their Facebook Page

Sydenham Wells Park

This park is considered to be one of the most attractive parks in the borough with its fine water features, formal gardens and fine array of mature trees and shrubs. The large children’s play area boasts a newly-installed waterplay feature in which to cool down, during the long, hot days of summer! The park has two tennis courts, a multi sports ball court and, during the summer, a putting green.

Sydenham Wells Park takes its name from the medicinal springs, which were discovered in Sydenham in the mid-seventeenth century, and for a time made the village popular as a spa resort. Several of the 12 former wells lie within the grounds of the park, and the springs are still active today. The park was officially opened to the public in 1901.

Telegraph Hill Park 

The park is in two sections, with the upper park offering magnificent views over London. It takes its name from the semaphore telegraph, which was placed on the summit, some 160 feet above sea level, by the Admiralty Board. The news of the victory of the Battle of Waterloo was passed to London via this station. The park is a ‘key’ park patrolled by on-site park keepers. The lower park is designated a dog free park and is locked at night, however the upper park is open 24 hours a day to allow access for dog owners.  To get involved please contact the Friends of Telegraph Hill Park

 NATURE RESERVES

 Burnt Ash Pond

Burnt Ash Pond is perhaps the finest pond in the borough from an ecological viewpoint, supporting a good variety of aquatic plants and animals. It is also aesthetically pleasing, with its fringing trees and colourful iris beds, and is muchloved by residents of the surrounding houses in Melrose Close. The site is open on the first Sunday of every month between 11am-12pm.  Please feel free to read a copy of our latest newsletter  BAP newsletter Autumn 2011.

The Friends recently won some money from the Mayors Fund to make improvements to the site.  These include a pond dipping platform and compost area.  It is hoped that local schools can be encouraged to use the site on a more regular basis.

 To get involved please contact Jess Kyle or 020 8314 2119

Devonshire Road

Devonshire Road Nature Reserve forms part of the Forest Hill to New Cross Gate railway cutting. This is a site of metropolitan importance for nature conservation as it contains probably the finest suite of railside wildlife habitat in London. It is four kilometres long and over 200 metres wide at its widest points.  You can use the walks leaflet to help guide you around Devonshire Road guided walk   you can also read out latest newsletter DR Newsletter Autumn 2010 DevRoad newsletter Autumn 2010 To get involved: Email Devonshire Road

Grove Park

Grove Park Nature Reserve, situated across the railway from Hither Green Cemetery, contains a good variety of habitats, including the only substantial area of grassland with a calcareous influence in the borough. These habitats support a wide diversity of plants and animals, including a number of locally rare species. The reserve is greatly appreciated by many local people, whether walking their dogs, picking blackberries and plums, or quietly enjoying a peaceful wild space.  Use the walks leaflet to guide you around.  To get involved please contact Jess Kyle or 020 8314 2119

Hither Green Triangle

The Sidcup and Orpington lines diverge at Hither Green station to make two sides of a triangle, the third side of which is formed by engine sheds and sidings. As all of these are on embankments, the land within the triangle appears from platform five (which provides the best view) as a large hollow. Regular sessions are held here where work includes maintaining the footpaths and building steps.

To get involved: Email Jess Kyle 

Hither Green Embankment

Hither Green Volunteers looking fetching in fluorescent

Hither Green Community Association (HGCA) are working to clear the overgrown vegetation and litter from Hither Green Station embankment (along Springbank Road), managing the bio-diversity there and planting bulbs and wild food. They also have a Community Garden by the bus stop in Springbank Road, where they have flowers, plants, benches, and weed and clear the litter. They welcome anyone who is interested in helping them. Check their website for the next Volunteer session or contact info@ourhithergreen.com. We have written about their great work on the blog before!

Future Friends Groups

We are hoping to establish a Friends group for Garthorne Road nature reserve in Brockley.  If you think that this is something that you would like to be involve in, please contact us.

The Nature Conservation Team is responsible for managing the Nature Reserves in Lewisham.

Other volunteering opportunities  

 

Details of Lewisham’s conservation volunteering opportunities