Nature Conservation Lewisham

Get involved in Lewisham's parks and nature reserves


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International Volunteer Day

IVD 2018 - Volunteers build Resilient Communities

“The diverse and dynamic role of volunteerism in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals merits strong support from Governments and other stakeholders. On this International Day, I thank volunteers for their efforts to leave no one behind.” — António Guterres, UN Secretary-General

International Volunteer Day (IVD) mandated by the UN General Assembly, is held each year on 5 December. It is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organisations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the volunteers in Lewisham (not just those who work in the parks and nature reserves) for all the hard work that you do. You all do a fantastic job and the work you do is invaluable.

Come rain or shine you are there with a smile!

Come rain or shine you are there with a smile!

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Good Parks for London 2018

Good Parks for London 2018

Good Parks for London 2018

On Wednesday 28 November, Parks for London published the Good Parks for London Report 2018: Improving London’s parks for all.

The Good Parks for London Report 2018 considers the approach that London Boroughs are taking towards parks and green spaces, evaluating them against ten criteria: public satisfaction, awards for quality, health and wellbeing, sustainability, events, supporting nature, skills development, community partnerships, collaboration and strategic planning.

London Borough of Lewisham has topped the chart for the second year in a row, demonstrating the fantastic work that they are doing to promote and protect parks and green spaces across their Borough.

Criteria used to assess London Boroughs’ parks and green spaces services:
1. Public satisfaction with parks
2. Awards for quality (Green Flags and London in Bloom)
3. Collaboration
4. Events: both policy and range and number of events
5. Health, fitness and well-being
6. Supporting nature
7. Community partnerships
8. Skills development
9. Sustainability
10. Strategic planning

For reference the first report of 2017 can be found here.


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Devonshire Road Nature Reserve Raise The Hut

Hub of the community

The Friends of Devonshire Road Nature Reserve’s events and activities are some of the most loved in our local community. From the yearly musical event “Festival in the Forest” to the term-time educational activity for children “Muddy Boots”. All are firm favourites in the local diaries.

Our hut is end of life

We want to hold more events and activities but we risk being unable to carry on and grow because our hut is end of life. We inherited a 30ft square temporary classroom which was installed in the 1970’s and has served us well for 40 years, but it’s time to build a better building.

Raise the hut

A new sustainable, low energy building using timber, which can be partly constructed by volunteers and timber building enthusiasts will be built. Using grants, funds and crowdfunding by the many locals who love and support the Nature Reserve.

The activity of building the centre will itself bring the community together as a barn raising.

The building will be used to support and expand on all the Nature Reserve’s environmental, education, community and musical activities and events.

You can join us

Thanks to a successful grant application we already have the plans produced by a professional architect. We now need to lay the first foundation stone (or stick!) on the site. This requires far more detailed work to get us through planning. With planning permission, funding to build will be easier. We need £25,000 to take us beyond making a planning application.

What you get from supporting us

By supporting us in our fund raising you get an amazing community space. It can be used for everything from yoga to bird watching. Without you there is no hut, there is no community.