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Home , Beckenham Place Park, Chinbrook, Crofton Park, Crossness Nature Reserve, Dulwich Upper Wood, Dulwich Wood

Visit 12 nature reserves along the Green Chain Walk Take a walk on the wild side The Wider Landscape This guide introduces you to Now it’s over to you. Whatever the Sensitive sites such as these cannot time of year you will find survive in isolation. The wider landscape some of the very best nature and something to delight you. Use the wildlife sites on the Green Chain. of the Green Chain - some 2,500 hectares checklist to tick off the sites you of open space in south east (the have visited and anything that Each one has something special about it. All have been selected size of 3,400 football pitches!), provides inspired you on your visit! an important role in their survival. As because they are easy to get to by train or bus. As well as maps well as acting as a buffer to urban for each site we have also provided information that will make page 6 - 7 encroachment and the increasing your visit more interesting. demand for more housing, the Green Woods page 8 - 9 Chain supports the mobility of wildlife so that alternative sources of food can be Take a walk found within the wider landscape. Oxleas Woods page 10 -11 Working together page 12 - 13 In the future our open spaces will need to be more resilient to threats such as on the wildside page 14 - 15 climate change, floods, droughts and sea level rises. The vision of a connected and page 16 - 17 robust living landscape can only be achieved by organisations working together. Now in its 40th year, the Green Woodland Walk page 18 - 19 Chain was established to protect and enhance these open spaces and our Place Park page 20 - 21 partnership will continue to encourage such cooperation so that present and Upper Wood page 22- 23 future generations can discover and enjoy the hidden nature that is on the Wood page 24 - 25 doorstep.

Take nothing but pictures One Tree Hill page 26 - 27 Twelve of the sites listed are Local Nature Reserves (LNR’s) which means they are page 28 - 29 actively managed to care for and protect the rare plants and animals within it. You Whyte’s Woodland page 30 - 31 will be entering their home, so please respect this by “taking nothing but pictures and leaving nothing but footprints”. Give your body and mind a break from the stress of everyday urban life.

r Thames Rive The South East London Green Chain Riverside Crossway Lake Thames footpath and cycle route

Manorway Crossway Crossness Beam with its 12 nature reserves is well Engine Thamesmead 1 Crossness EASTERN WAY (LNR) Birchmere Southmere served by numerous train stations Park Southmere T Park h A2016 a Lake m e

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The t e DLR Thames footpath and cycle route A206 WOOLWICH ROAD Belvedere Railway Station Woolwich Arsenal Railway Station never been easier. Railway Station Abbey Ruins Erith Woolwich Dockyard Railway Station Abbey Wood Belvedere Gilberts Pit Railway Station 2 Charlton Franks Park Railway Station Woolwich A2041 Road Rd Lesnes Abbey (LNR) Pembroke Road 4 Barracks L New Plumstead o n ROAD d Fossil Bed ERITH Erith Railway o n L Great o Thorntree Station o Maryon p Woolwich Hurst Wilson Park Bartletts Bostall Heath A206 Woods Pond BOSTALL HILL WOOLWICH ROAD DLR TON PARK Road CHARL ROAD Long Common

leagh WICKHAMBostal Woods Charlton Park Winns Lane

LANE Greenwich Woolwich Railway Station Common

ACADEMY ROAD Open Space A209 A207 Hornfair Park

Shooters Hill Common Woodlands SHOOTERS Farm Severndroog HILL Castle Nunhead Railway Station Railway Station 3 BELEGROVE ROAD Jackwood Oxleas (LNR) A2214 Meadows

Brockley Rochester Way 12 Railway Station Welling Way Eltham Park Shepherdleas North Wood Railway Station B219 Rye Park

Eltham Railway B238 Station FOREST Railway Station Sutcliffe Park5 Riefield Road North Dulwich Capital Ring Railway Station (LNR) Eltham HILL East 11 ROAD ELTHAM Dulwich Dulwich ROAD One Tree Hill HIGH STREET BEXLEY To help you find your Village B318 A210 Park Park Railway Station way and make it even Forest Hill A2216 Conduit C Eltham University O

L Palace Meadows L Campus E easier to visit the G

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O A D Horniman COMMON Cox’s A205 ROAD Middle DULWICH Gardens Green Chain Walk Walk Middle Park Avenue Park Sparrows Lane LONDON ROAD The Tarn FOOTSCRAY ROAD

Bird Sanctuary HILL Forest Hill ROAD LANE attractions a pack of Railway Station Railway Station 6 AVERY 10 Grove Park Railway Station Sydenham Nature Reserve GREEN Hill Wood Na- ROAD Fairy Hill twelve weather-proof route cards is available, ture Reserve Park A2216 Cemetery COURT Sydenham Hill Railway Station Railway Station Downham Mottingham ROAD including illustrated maps, written directions and Woodland Walk PARK Southwood Road (LNR) New Eltham Sydenham 7 GROVE ROAD Wells Bell Green A21 Park Grove Park A211 features of special interest along the way. The pack Railway Station Chinbrook Lower Sydenham Meadows Railway Station Marvels A20 Wood costs £3.50 including postage and packaging. CRYSTAL PALACE ROAD SYDENHAM 9 ROAD Beckenham Hill Marvels Railway Station Wood PARK Lower Sydenham Dulwich Railway Station Upper ROAD Alexandra Downham Elmstead Wood Wood Recreation Whytes East Ground Beckenham New Street Hill Woodland Railway Station 8 Place Park (LNR) To obtain a copy paying by debit/credit card, Norwood HILL LANE ASH

Cator Road New Beckenham BROMLEY Elmstead Lane ring 020 8921 5599 between 9.00 am and 5.30pm. Lennard Railway Station

Crystal Palace PENGE Road BURNT Park Avenue Railway Station ROAD HILL Penge West HIGH Elmstead Woods Thicket Road Railway Station Plaistow END Cator Warren Monday to Thursday or 9.00am - 4.30pm on Friday. STREET Railway Station Park London

Road Elstree Lane SOUTH Avenue Hill Railway Station Hall A2212 A208 Ravensbourne For further information call the info line 020 8921 House Kings Railway Station A21 Sundridge Park Railway Station Railway Station A214 Beckenham Junction Railway Station 5028 or visit www.greenchain.com.

Crossness Section 1 of the Green Chain Walk

Crossness nature reserve is an Address Barn owls Norman Road important oasis for wildlife of all Belvedere DA16 6JY descriptions. A relic of the ancient have been 07747 643958 Thames grazing marshes, its karen.sutton@ breeding thameswater.co.uk surroundings include , reed beds, ponds and scrubland. These here since Opening habitats provide homes and feeding Monday - Sunday 2005. Always open areas for water voles as well as Station resident and migrant birds’ Winter Abbey Wood visitors include Redwing and Belvedere Fieldfare. The site also supports a wide Bus variety of wide habitat and insects Train: Abbey Wood Take the bus 229 including the rare Shrill Carder Bee. from stop G towards Thamesmead To: Nickelby Close stop Roger - volunteer ND and walk through “ This site is one of London’s secret gems. As a volunteer I help out Manorway Green to E Thames Path with tasks like keeping the pathways open and cutting the AS TE reedbeds. It’s incredibly rewarding when you look up and catch RN WA Journey Planner sight of a rare bird!”. Y For travel information from your home to the nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk 6 7 Section 1 and 2 of the Green Chain Walk

Lesnes Abbey is called an ancient Address Abbey Road, woodland, which means it’s been Belvedere, DA17 5DL around for over 400 years at least. 020 8303 7777 Within the reserve you will find jparks&openspaces @bexley.gov.uk ponds, glades, lowland heath (very www.visitlesnes.co.uk rare in London) and even a fossil bed with sharks teeth! The site is known Opening Monday - Sunday for its wild spring flowers that The site is open at include the largest colony of native all times. wild daffodil in SE together Station with spectacular displays of Abbey Wood Bluebells and Wood Anemones. Buses Bus: Take bus B11 from stop E towards . Sandra - Conservation Volunteer To: Abbey Road, stop W “These days people often feel cut off from nature, especially living

in a big city like London. Here at the nature reserve I help out with Transport for London tasks like coppicing (where you cut the tree back to ground level) Journey Planner and tree planting- it gives me a real sense of satisfaction. Come and For travel information from your home to the nature reserve join us!” ring 0343 222 1234 or view journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk 8 9 Oxleas Woodlands Section 5, 6 and 7 of the Green Chain Walk

An impressive Address SHOO TERS HILL D The Oxleas Woods

that features, Hazel, Sweet Chestnut A

O Centre

R and some very tall Oak trees. It’s L Crown Woods Lane L A DOVE H S London SE18 3JA ELTHAM N R R managed for nature and is thought L D OAD L G COMMON H E T R C 020 8854 6885 O R W W L O I W N by ecologists to be one of the most E N K W parks@royal O O D S greenwich.gov.uk important sites for wildlife in the LA N E whole of London. The woodlands are

Opening also home to many different kinds of OXLEAS Monday - Sunday WOOD Always open birds including Nuthatches and CASTLE JACKWOOD WOOD OXLEAS Woodpeckers. It also has a huge MEADOWS Station

variety of flowering plants, especially Falconwood Walk across Rochester OCHESTER WAY spring-time Bluebells. R Way to enter the

WELLING WAY nature reserve is ROCH opposite - enter via E STER Shepherdleas Wood W SHEPHERDLEAS AY WOODS Laurie - Conservation volunteer “ I really enjoy working in these very special woods, just helping to Transport for London Journey Planner preserve something that has been here for thousands of years so For travel information from that our children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy them.” your home to the nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk 10 11 Maryon Wilson Park Section 5 of the Green Chain Walk

Address Maryon Wilson Park is a beautiful The animal Thorntree Road park. It contains both informal open care centre Charlton SE7 grassland and woodlands – all in a 020 8921 6885 parks@royal valley setting with streams running has a wide greenwich.gov.uk through the woods. The park has range of animal enclosures with sheep, ducks, Opening animals to Monday - Sunday geese, chickens, goats, peacocks and 8am to dusk a pig. The largest enclosure features see Station a small herd of deer. There are areas Charlton suitable for picnics, animal open Bus days, woodland walks and tree Take the bus 380 from stop K at walks. To the north is Gilberts Pit - a Sundorne Road/ geological site of special interest. Wellington Gardens towards Belmarsh To: Pound Park Road Tim - friend of the park Transport for London “I’m part of a local voluntary group that helps to look after the Maryon Wilson Park Journey Planner nature reserve. We aim to keep it clear from litter and work to improve the environment. For travel information from your home to the nature reserve It means that visitors see it at its best and it gives us a lot of satisfaction.” ring 0343 222 1234 or view journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk 12 13 Sutcliffe Park

A legacy of an award-winning flood Address The park Eltham Road, improvement scheme, Sutcliffe Park Eltham SE9 has been transformed into one of is accessible 020 8921 6885 the most spectacular wetland sites parks@royal to wheelchair greenwich.gov.uk in . It is rich in wildlife and provides a home for a users. Opening variety of birds, animals and plants. Monday - Sunday 8am to dusk Depending on your time of visit, you may see Dragonflies, Damselflies, Station Herons, Little Egrets, Kingfishers and Bus Reed Warblers. The central area of Take the bus B16 the park - that is, around the flood from Stop B towards Bexleyheath Bus water collection area - was declared Garage or bus 178 a Local Nature Reserve in 2006. from stop B towards Station To: Cambert Way Afram - aged 11- local resident Transport for London Journey Planner “I love coming here with my Mum and watching the birds take off For travel information from and land from the lake. When it’s sunny we have a picnic and listen your home to the nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view to the birds in the reeds making some strange sounds.” journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

14 15 Grove Park Section 8 of the Green Chain Walk

This site is greatly enjoyed by many Address Railway Children’s local people, whether walking their Walk off Baring Road dogs, picking blackberries and plums, Grove Park SE12 0DS or quietly enjoying a peaceful wild 020 8314 2007 nick.pond@ space. The reserve contains a variety of lewisham.gov.uk interesting habitats, supporting many plants and animals. It is open all year Opening Monday - Friday round so can be enjoyed by anyone at Always open anytime. There is an audio trail and a Station leaflet available to guide you around Grove Park the site and a hillside view that may Bus have inspired Railway Children author Take the bus 261 from Stop L towards Edith Nesbit. Lewisham To: St Mildred’s Road Martin - volunteer

Transport for London “I enjoy working on the reserve, keeping it tidy and accessible for Journey Planner visitors. We also help out with the woodland trails and seating For travel information from areas, which show off the reserve at its best and makes us feel your home to the nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view proud of what we’ve achieved with our partners.” journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

16 17 Downham Woodland Walk Section 8 of the Green Chain Walk

Downham Woodland Walk is a A pleasant Address narrow strip of ancient woodland Entry points between running through Downham, linking place to Oakridge Rd. and Moorside Rd. running Grove Park Nature Reserve to walk parallel to . It contains Lane, Downham. 020 8314 2007 some magnificent old oak and ash especially nick.pond@ trees, there are glades of Bluebells in spring lewisham.gov.uk in the spring and a wide variety of when the Opening birds and insects. It is a beautiful, Monday - Sunday peaceful place to walk the dog and woodland 8am - Dusk enjoy the sights sounds and smells flowers Station of nature. bloom. Beckenham Hill From station turn left onto Beckenham Hill Road and then turn right into Bromley Janet - volunteer Road. Walk until you reach the junction with B RO Oakridge Road where the entrance is. We have been helping maintain the Woodland Walk for the ML EY R past 14 years. It is a wonderful place to get away from it all O A and listen to the birds singing in the trees”. D Transport for London Journey Planner For travel information from your home to the nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

18 19 Beckenham Place Park Section 8 of the Green Chain Walk

This is the largest green space in Address the borough of Lewisham, covering The park Lewisham, BR3 5BP 020 8314 2007 96 hectares, with large areas of contains one nick.pond@ ancient woodland ideal for informal of the largest lewisham.gov.uk woodland walks. Beckenham Place Opening Park is very popular for recreation. remaining Monday - Sunday A visitor centre is open in the ancient 8am - Dusk mansion house on Sundays and woodlands Station provides information on the park’s Beckenham Hill history and natural history. The Bus friends group also runs events in the Take the bus 54 stop SE on park, including walks and talks. Beckenham Hill Road towards To: Stumps Hill Lane stop on Southend Lane (or walk - the mansion house is a 10 minute walk Irene - volunteer from the station) “ I help out in the sensory gardens. The obvious pleasure it gives to visitors is very rewarding, as is watching the beds develop through Transport for London Journey Planner For travel information from your home to the the seasons.” nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

20 21

Dulwich Upper Wood is an Address important relic of a much larger area The Wood is Farquar Rd, London, SE19 1SS called the . It is an oasis of 020 8761 6230 ancient woodland with other areas calm in a [email protected] that have re-grown after a major disturbance. Some of its large oaks bustling Opening Monday - Sunday are more than 350 years old. city, a great 8am - Dusk Bluebells carpet the wood in season, place to Station with Primroses, Wood Anemones Crystal Palace and Yellow Pimpernel flowering too. volunteer Bus There is a good path system and Take the bus 157, 358 or 410 from stop P nature trail walk. The warden and towards Crystal Palace volunteers have information on the To: Crystal Palace Parade stop C history, artefacts and natural history.

To Palace Crystal Parade Transport for London Dilpreet - local resident Journey Planner For travel information from “I love walking up here with my neighbour and wandering through your home to the nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view the trails together. I’m sure it’s therapeutic because I always feel journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk better afterwards!”

22 23

Sydenham Hill Wood Section 11 of the Green Chain Walk

DU LWICH ) COMMO N (ROAD has been LO Address The wood is R D CO S Entrances on Crescent managed by as HIP X

’ S Wood Road and L a nature reserve for over 30 years home to over WA AN Sydenham Hill, SE26 L E K and is one of the largest remaining and via 200 species and Cox’s Walk fragments of the Great North Wood. 020 7252 9186 A footpath now winds through the of trees dgreenwood@ wildlondon.org.uk wood following the track of the old and railway line. The wood has surviving Opening ancient remnants with populations flowering Monday - Sunday of Wood Anemone, English Bluebell plants Open at all times and Woodruff, as well as breeding Station birds such as Sparrowhawk, Tawny Forest Hill Honor Oak Park ANS WOOD Owl, and Treecreeper. AM CK L Train: Forest Hill PE IL H Bus Take the bus 197 from stop D towards Peckham M or bus 176 from stop D towards Tottenham Court Road or Hannah - volunteer ROAD A OOD H T W N Route Bus 185 from stop D towards Victoria EN E “I enjoy the sense of community the wood’s volunteer group C D S Y To: Wood Vale stop on Lordship Lane Or E S offers me. It’s a great place to observe wildlife I wouldn’t R C Train: Honor Oak Park normally see.” Bus Take the Route Bus P4 from stop HA towards Brixton To: Wood Vale stop on Lordship Lane Transport for London Journey Planner 24 For travel information from your home to the nature reserve ring 25 0343 222 1234 or view journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk One Tree Hill Section 11 of the Green Chain Walk

Address With amazing views over London, Entrances are on a semaphore station here once This is one Brenchley Gardens, Honor Oak Park and signalled the East India Company of the Honor Oak Rise when ships were sighted in the highest 020 7525 2000 Channel. The steep hill is wooded with parks@. gov.uk open grassland at the top. The site points of has many ancient trees with the main south Opening ones being hybrid Back-Poplar and Monday - Sunday London Open at all times London Plane, the result of former landscaping. There are also wild Station Honor Oak Park Service Trees and Midland Hawthorns. The nature reserve is a The ground flora includes Bluebells, 5-10 minute walk from the station. Turn right Heath Grass and Compact Rush. out of the station onto Honor Oak Park (the Daniel - local resident road) from where the

“A volunteer group helps out with conservation and organises reserve is sign-posted. events. It’s lovely to have a place like this to relax in the city - Transport for London Journey you feel connected to nature and the wildlife who have their Planner home here.” For travel information from your home to the nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view 26 journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk 27

Nunhead Cemetery Section 11 of the Green Chain Walk

Address The cemetery is a nature reserve One of Entrances are on that supports a wide range of both Linden Grove and the great Limesford Road native and exotic plants. It’s also a 020 7525 2000 haven for wildlife; and 16 species Victorian parks@southwark. of have been found within gov.uk the cemetery. of London Opening The reserve also contains examples Monday - Sunday of the magnificent monuments 8am - Dusk

erected in memory of the most Station eminent citizens of the day, which Nunhead contrast sharply with the small, The nature reserve is a 5-10 minute walk from the station. Outside the simple headstones marking station entrance continue ahead on common or public burials. to Oakdale Road and then turn right on to Linden Grove from where the Ann - volunteer cemetery is sign-posted “I enjoy working in Nunhead because it has many interesting Transport for London nooks and corners and there is always someone new to meet Journey Planner and something new to see. My favourite spot is looking For travel information from your home to the nature reserve towards St. Paul’s from the top of the hill!” ring 0343 222 1234 or view journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk 28 29 Whyte’s Woodland Section 9 of the Green Chain Walk

Though not officially designated, Address this nature reserve is a lovely Walden Road, BR7 5DH woodland and bird sanctuary and 020 8464 3333 offers so much we felt it ought to landscape.helpdesk be included. A tranquil piece of @bromley.gov.uk woodland right in suburbia, Opening Whyte’s Woodland features old 8am - Dusk Always open oaks, wildflowers and much Station wildlife. Watch out for the Parakeets and boating teddy bears Mottingham Bus - it’s another hidden gem! Take the bus 161 from stop MD towards Chislehurst War Memorial To: Chislehurst High Street/Albany Road

Reginald - local resident Transport for London Journey Planner “I bring my two grand-children here because it has a fantastic play For travel information from area, and there are some lovely trails around the woods and in your home to the nature reserve ring 0343 222 1234 or view autumn the trees look amazing as they change colour.” journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

30 31 1 (Zone 2 & 3)

(Zone 1 & 2)

2 (Zone 2 & 3)

(Zone 2 & 3) 3

4 London Travelcard Zones 1-6

Station signposted to the Green Chain Walk: 10 minutes walking distance or less 5 6

03/14

South East London Green Chain: The of Bexley, Bromley, Royal Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark working in partnership to safeguard, enhance and promote the Green Chain open spaces for the enjoyment of all

For more information 020 8921 5028 or visit www.greenchain.com

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publishers can accept no liability whatsoever for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions, or any matter in any way connected with, or arising from, the publishing of this information. Green Chain maps are reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Royal Borough of Greenwich – 1000196952011 © Green Chain Working Party March 2014

12179 May 2014