Information Bexley Woods The dominant tree is hornbeam. Riverdale Road Mid-way along this section you After crossing over the River Shuttle footbridge turn Hall Place This site has been occupied since Buses: This ancient woodland was once managed by may notice relatively shallow, rapidly flowing sections immediately right and follow the narrow surfaced path. the 13th Century. The present house is part-Tudor, Explore the Avery Hill: B15 (N.S.), N21, 132, 162, 233, 286 coppicing, a system where the trees were felled to a of the river called “Riffles”, and deeper, more tranquil The area to the left before you turn right is part of the and part-Jacobean. The notorious rake Sir Francis Gravel Hill (for Hall Place): B15 (N.S.), 132, 229, 492 few inches above ground level and allowed to regrow. sections called “Pools”. BETHS Grammar playing fields. Dashwood, of Hell-Fire Club fame, once lived here Every 5-15 years this regrowth would be harvested to and it was occupied for 70 years by a private boarding Parkhill Road: 132, 269. Towards the down-stream end the river is cutting Shuttle Riverway provide material for building, fencing and firewood. As BETHS Grammar Here the riverbank has school for boys. (N.S.) - No Sunday Service. into the bank in a number of places, exposing the 3 well as being of economic benefit, coppicing favours abundant tree cover composed principally of trees Approx 5 /4 miles following riverside, woods, sediments. These sediments probably date from the The last tenant was the Countess of Limerick, who Transport for London: 020 7222 1234 www.tfl.gov.uk many woodland plants and animals by allowing light that prefer damp soil such as alder, crack willow and parks and some linking roads. Well signposted Pleistocene or Ice Age epoch over 10,000 years ago. lived there until 1943, after which the American to reach the woodland floor and providing a range of black poplar. On the north bank an oak dominated with signs and way mark posts. For detailed travel information from your home to any army used it as a base for code breaking. This grade 1 habitats from newly-cut glades to dense thickets. At the end of Riverdale Road turn right and cross over woodland, with a few sycamore and silver birch has point on the Shuttle Riverway visit listed building is now a museum operated by Bexley Upton Road South into Love Lane. At the end of Love Lane become established. Some large black poplars and Generally flat surfaced paths but some www.tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/ There are a number of bends, or meanders, along Heritage Trust. It has renowned gardens with topiary. sters Ave

HookH Lane continue straight ahead along the unsurfaced pedestrian crack willows can be seen on the south bank. et Ave Yorkland Avenue steep slopes which may require a detour GlouceGloucester Ave WestwoodW Lane Close this section of the Shuttle. Erosion is greatest on the The visitor centre houses a shop, café and toilets. venue SomersSomerset Ave OS map: footpath and continue to follow the footpath round to Cowper Close Kent AAvenue Close outside (concave) bank, Close where Road the water is flowing At the end of the surfaced footpath you need to turn left for wheelchairs and buggies. Sutherland AvenueA This leaflet is best used in conjunction with the a the left when you reach the junction of Knoll Road with At Hall Place the Shuttle joins the River Cray and the Hansol Road venue CuCuxtonxton Close Ingleton Avenue fastest. On the inside of the bend the relatively sluggish and cross the A2 via the footbridge. After crossing the Ordnance Survey Map PathfinderRadnor Ave 1:25,000 TQ 47/57. Hartford Road. Cray Riverway walk can be followed north to Crayford flow encourages the deposition of sand, pebbles and footbridge cross over Rochester Drive and turn left. Turn GreenGree Vale Road ValValeV s MountainMMounta Road Cres LyndonLyndLyn Avenue ers in RoaRoadd ate Marshes and the River Thames or south to Foots Cray Avenue For information on the London LOOP, and the other AlersAle Road g

en other material derived from further upstream. Pebble right up Midhurst Hill and at the end of the row of houses cent d Lane TyrrellTyrrell Ave Fay Meadows and the London LOOP. The132 bus route will six longood distance walks which make up theDansonDaD Strategicnsnson ParkPara k deposits also occur in the centre of the river bed you can either turn right and cross over the Warren or if estw Broomfield Rd Walk NetworkWestwoodWe Lane for London, visit www.walklondon.org. Gravel Hill take you from Gravel Hill to the Avery Hill end of the A210 known as “Channel Bars”. you want to avoid the steep banks you can continue up A22 CloCl see Park MeadM ke dde C Clo Shuttle Riverway. Meade LakesideLakesiLakes Close Horsham Road Bexley Road uk or call 0870 240 6094 for free leaflets. Midhurst Hill Midhurst Hill and turn right along Broomfield Road to rejoin On leaving Bexley Woods cross over Parkhill Road, turn left The WarrenW Broom Mead AveryAAvvere y HHiHillll HHouseouo the Shuttle Riverway just opposite Faygate Crescent. Winter A210A2 0 and then right into Riverdale Road. On reaching the open Avery Hill Road Redwing The Shuttle Riverkeeper Coordinator is working to

AlderwoodAl Road Rochester Drive Garden Parish Gate DriveD BlackfenBlBlac Road Road ackfkkfekfen grass area there is the opportunity to walk along Rye Close BourneB u improve the rivers environmental status andeen Ro quality Ga RRo The Warren The name has its origins in the A2 Drive the riverbank. rirriv through educational programmes and community Gravel Hill Close e Blendon Road 16th Century, when it was said that rabbits were kept Willow Close Danson Underpass Avery Hill Park ParishPaP engagement. For information on how to volunteer ring BETHS for sale there. The farmhouse was used as a hospital

Close Allot Gardens Anstridge Road WWoWoodooodd Park 07585302623 or email [email protected] Grammar Hall Place WellingtonWellinW Ave for Hall Place School in 1845 despite being known Goldfinch Bourne Road

Harcourt Avenue The Drive lin Hartford Road Dre Dr

gton A South View Love Lane rB

WaWaterter o Upton Road South locally as the “Pest House”, after a carrier died of ive Lan SmallSSmall ToT rtoiseshell ok Road Crescent Please followve the Country Code: VVoolel dale Road KnollKn B2214 Berwick Days Lane Riverdale Road plague there in 1665 following a trip to London. nene Halfway Street e RamilliesRamillRaRRam Road Laneana Guard against all risk of fire, keepaam dogs under close k L ckc L Parkhurst Road Crescent m ackaac L riv BackBacBBa LLane f Crescent Hollyoak wwa ies RRo D Warren Farmhouse was demolished in 1937. Its ay ReRResRestons Norfolk d GreenGGrGre Chain d Driv ada y control, leave no litter, help keep all water clean, Penhill Park oadooa RoadRoaRRo Wood Park ad SStre Parkhill Road llll re oololl rer nnonoll e NorfolkNorfN Crescent KnollKnKnoKKnol Road former site is now an open mown area bordered by woo St. Mary’s een ete protect wildlife, plants and trees, cross roads carefully. A221 oad n Peacock Butterfly m d Black Poplar Recreation Ground olk ElmwoodElm Drive CCh e long grass and shrubs, whilst most of the hillside is lk s Oaklands Avenue k RoseberyRRosos Avenue ha HambledonHam Road CresC e Bourne Road a am mble Alder RowleyRo Avenue Road covered by oak and elm woodland. The abundance of in Close n dondo Old Bexley onn cent RiversideRRiive Walk ng Ro ent Dene Avenue ring RoR Albany Road pringp nt Crofton Avenue s ada WillersleyWWillll Park Bexley Woodsdds OvermeOveOvermeadrm hs Albany Clos Avenue insects that these woodlands support provides food add uths Willersley Avenue outhsouth d Parkhill Road SoSoutSouthspring Penhill rkh ada khill Ro ay

Avenue ll R ooadoa d l RRoaooa RoRRoadRoa RoRoadRoaR ParkwoodPPaParParkaarark k Road d Cr se n rkwrkrkkwo oseo een od RoadRoa for a variety of birds. Blue tits and treecreepers feed dedden Cl d ad PrintedMarlboroughMaMa onrlrlbob recyledroougg paperh mdm n ClC Dorchester aamdam River Cray o CaCCamden Road gtoto Bexley ngtngtongn ury Ro mainly in the trees whilst robins, wrens and dunnocks i PPaParkrrkk b li s isi lillisblis High ArlingtonArlArliA Close alialaalisbalis SalisburySalisbSSalSaliSaSalis Road

ManorManMManoMa Way Murchison Street forage mostly on the ground and shrub layer. Other aanoranoan Sparrows LaneLan nonorn Bexley oro Collindale Avenue r WayWWa Lane Railway Station ve aya Marsh Marigold Sidcup Howard Avenue y species, not exclusively feeding solely on insects also La Burnt Oak on Dri Golf Coursee Willow TivertonTivert Drive If you would like the information in this leaflet in take advantage of the variety of shelter and nesting

enue a different format, please call 020 8303 7777 and Hornbeam st Av sites provided by the woodland. Gelnhurst Avenue Marlborough Park Avenue Hurst Road Keightley Drive ask for Communications/Graphics. ViVicVicaraVicarage Road A222 c ara Lamorbey Mansion ra Maple Leaf Drive ge R Roa At the end of Broomfield Road you will need to take RRo The reference to quote is 603191/11.14 oa Roaoad a bank R B2214 d aver BeaverBeaverbankeav Road London Loop or extreme care when crossing the busy Gravel Hill at the Halfway Street NorthNorNo Cray Road Oakley Drive Cray Riverway Drive Thrush The Glade crossing. After crossing there is a pedestrian entrance to Childrens Play area Toilet Key for map: © Crown copyright All rights reserved 100017693 2009 the northern area of Hall Place grounds. This open grassy Lamorbey Park Rutland Shaw Albany Park The Ordnance Survey map data included within this publication is provided by London Longlands Bus stops Railway Station area slopes steeply down to Hall Place where it links up Boroughs of Bexley Lic. No. 100017693 2007 under licence from the Ordnance Survey in Refreshments Areas of Public order to fulfil their public function to publicise local public services. Persons viewing this with the Cray Riverway. OldOOlldd FFaFarmarmrm ParkPParPaara k A222 Hurst Road Car Parks Open Space mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to licence Bexley Woods Listening to you, working for you www.bexley.gov.uk Listening toSidcup you, working for you www.bexley.gov.ukAbbeyhillbb y illll PaParkarkr RRailwayailway StatStStationion Information Ordnance Survey data for their own use.

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NorthNorth CraCrayy The Shuttle Riverway is a signposted walk along the Much of the bankside vegetation Avery Hill House was built in the early 1800s \ Hollyoak Wood Park The park was once all Lamorbey To the south of the golf course Penhill Bridge This area is notable for the River Shuttle, a small tributary of the River Cray, that it along the Shuttle consists of nettles, and extensively enlarged and renovated in the 1880s woodland and part of a royal hunting ground. During lies Lamorbey Park, that can be reached by making a presence of water voles, that can frequently be seen joins at Hall Place near Bexley. The walk then joins the brambles and coarse grasses. These when it was bought by Colonel North. Perhaps its World War II, all but a small area of woodland was dug detour south down Burnt Oak Lane for 440 yards and at quiet times of the day from Spring to Autumn, Cray Riverway, following the Cray through to the River provide cover and shelter for most outstanding feature is the Winter Garden with over for allotment food production. Today one small entering the Park at the main gates. The estate dates either swimming or feeding on grasses or water plants. Darent at Crayford Marshes and through the marshes invertebrates and mammals, and food its three temperature controlled houses, and plant patch of ancient woodland and an allotment corner in a from the end of the 15th Century. The present house, Evidence of their presence can be seen in the form of to the Thames. A separate leaflet is available for the for a variety of insect species. Nettles Peacock Butterfly collections from every continent. The house, which grassy leisure area are left as witnesses of former days. dating from c1750, has been enlarged and improved the closely-cropped feeding areas and burrows. Cray Riverway. are the food-plant of several butterfly species including was badly damaged by a bomb in 1941, is now used by over the years, the architect John Shaw being On leaving Hollyoak Wood Park turn right and cross over Having crossed over the bridge turn left following the river the small tortoiseshell, red admiral and peacock, all of Greenwich University whilst the park is used for many responsible for its present appearance. The house The banks of the river, and some areas of adjacent Willersley Avenue at the crossing and enter Willersley Park. along Riverside Walk crossing straight over Albany Road which can be seen in this area. sports and outdoor activities. had many owners and tenants and was at one stage land, contain remnants of the woodlands and and Crofton Road. a private hotel. It is now the home of Rose Bruford agricultural land that formerly dominated the Another interesting feature of the Willersley Park Follow the footpath. On leaving Continue to follow the way markers through the park leaving sters Ave

College. NewHookH Lane buildingset Ave includeYorkland aAvenue circular theatre and GlouceGloucester Ave WestwoodW Lane countryside of this region. Particularly obvious are the walk is the variety of water- the park cross over Marlborough Park Avenue and enter Close Riverside Walk Several non-native trees occur at the southern entrance. Cross Avery Hill Road at the venue SomersSomerset Ave award-winning college buildings. Cowper Close Kent AAvenue Close alder and willow trees that once formed extensive loving plants. The most obvious Marlborough Park. in this section including the invasive sycamore, that Close Road crossing and continue straight ahead along the pedestrian Sutherland AvenueA a Hansol Road venue CuCuxtonxton Close stands in the low lying wetland areas next to the examples are species that are Ingleton Avenue grows all along the river, and the american red oak, path crossing over Anstridge Road and Alderwood Road. To the east of Sidcup Golf Course the path continues along Radnor Ave stream. These remnants and the river, provide a rooted in the shallows and grow an unsurfaced track between residential gardens. At Dene horse chestnut and walnut found at the eastern end of Continue straight ahead along the pedestrian path and turn GreenGree Vale Road ValValeV s MountainMMounta Road Cres LyndonLyndLyn Avenue ers in RoaRoadd ate Avenue AlersAle Road g

valuable refuge for wildlife enabling a variety of animals out of the water such as reed canary- right when you reach the next road Restons Crescent. After Avenue cross over the roaden and turn left. At the junction the open space. Introduced trees are, generally, of less cent d Lane TyrrellTyrrell Ave Fay to penetrate further into urban areas than would grass, pendulous sedge and soft rush. ood conservationDansonDaD nsnson ParkPara kvalue than native species because fewer you have passed the blocks of flats turn immediately left at with Rowley Avenue turn right. At the junctionestw with Broomfield Rd WestwoodWe Lane Gravel Hill otherwise be the case without these corridors. Other plants can be seen growing at the the Parish Wood Park entrance. A210 Harcourt Avenue turn right and continue south to Penhill species of insect feed on them. Marsh Marigold A22 CloCl see Park MeadM ke dde C Clo Meade LakesideLakesiLakes Close Horsham Road water’s edge such as the flowering water Bexley Road Road. Cross over Penhill Road at the crossing and follow Midhurst Hill At Murchison Avenue cross over the road and directly The WarrenW Broom Mead History figwort and marsh marigold. Parish Wood Park The name may refer to the AveryAAvvere y HHiHillll HHouseouo the road until you reach Penhill Bridge. Winter A210A2 0 opposite the walk enters Bexley Woods. Avery Hill Road Redwing The early history of the River Shuttle was almost AlderwoodAl Road Rochester Drive old parish boundary, this followed much the same line Parish Gate DriveD Garden BlackfenBlBlac Road Road ackfkkfekfen Rye Close BourneB u een Ro The source of the Shuttle Ga RRo completely related to agriculture. The Anglo Saxons as the present borough boundary. The park was once A2 Drive rirriv

Gravel Hill Close settled by the river, cleared spaces in the forest, farmed The main source of the Shuttle appears to be near all wet woodland and today the park is often very e Blendon Road Willow Close Danson Underpass and tended pigs. In 814 AD King Cenwulf of Kent Pippenhall Stables just south of the A210 between wet, so alders and willows grow well. The trees along Avery Hill Park ParishPaP BETHS

Close Allot Gardens Anstridge Road WWoWoodooodd Park Grammar Hall Place made Archbishop Wulfred the Lord of the Manor and Avery Hill and Eltham. Here there is a spring at the river are mainly crack willows, so called because Goldfinch WellingtonWellinW Ave Bourne Road

Harcourt Avenue The Drive lin Hartford Road Dre Dr

gton A South View Love Lane rB

WaWaterter o Upton Road South gave him ten ploughlands, through which the Shuttle is the junction between the relatively freely-draining of the brittleness of their twigs. This native species ive Lan SSmaSmallll TTortoiseshell ok Road Crescent ve VVoolel dale Road KnollKn thought to have run. Blackheath Beds, and the more slowly draining has been present in Britain since the Ice Age. Recent B2214 Berwick Days Lane Riverdale Road nene Halfway Street e RamilliesRamillRaRRam Road Laneana aam k L ckc L Parkhurst Road Crescent m ackaac L riv BackBacBBa LLane Woolwich Beds. An old map indicates another source improvements to this park include a new playground, f Crescent Hollyoak wwa ReRResRestons ies RRo D Over time a number of large estates were established. ay Norfolk d GreenGGrGre Chain d Driv ada y Penhill Park oadooa RoadRoaRRo Wood Park ad SStre llll just to the east of Holy Trinity Church in Southend wetland habitat and path network. re Parkhill Road oololl rer nnonoll e NorfolkNorfN Crescent KnollKnKnoKKnol Road woo St. Mary’s Some buildings such as Lamorbey survive today while ete een A221 oad Crescent that is also on the boundary between these n Peacock Butterfly m d Black Poplar Recreation Ground olk ElmwoodElm Drive CCh lk se Oaklands Avenue others such as Warren Farmhouse disappeared. Follow the waymarked path through Parish Wood Park k RoseberyRRosos Avenue ha two beds. HambledonHam Road CresC Bourne Road a am mble Alder RowleyRo Avenue Road and exit adjacent to the school entrance onto Berwick in Close Old Bexley n dondo onn cent RiversideRRiive Walk ng Ro ent Dene Avenue The Dartford Loop Railway was opened in 1866 and ring RoR Albany Road pringp nt Crofton Avenue s ada WillersleyWWillll Park Bexley Woodsdds OvermeOveOvermeadrm ad hs Albany Close Avenue Crescent footpath. Turn left and the path follows the d uths Willersley Avenue outhsouth d Parkhill Road SoSoutSouthspring Penhill rkh ada khill Ro ay

Avenue ll R brought many changes with development encouraged Route Guide ooadoa d l RRoaooa RoRRoadRoa RoRoadRoaR ParkwoodPPaParParkaarark k Road d Cr se n rkwrkrkkwo oseo een od RoadRoa northern bank of the River Shuttle. dedden Cl d ad MarlboroughMaMarlrlbob roouggh mdm by the new accessibility to London. Together with a n ClC Dorchester aamdam River Cray o CaCCamden Road The following describes the route for walkers starting gtoto Bexley ngtngtongn ury Ro i PPaParkrrkk b li s isi lillisblis High ArlingtonArlArliA Close alialaalisbalis boom in affordable houses, today’s ‘Dormitory Suburb’ from the Green Chain Walk at Avery Hill Park and Berwick Crescent The bankside vegetation in Marlborough Park Follow the footpath. On SalisburySalisbSSalSaliSaSalis Road ManorManMManoMa Way Murchison Street aanoranoan Sparrows LaneLan nonorn Bexley oro was on the way. Collindale Avenue r leaving Marlborough Park cross over Burnt Oak Lane and WayWWa continuing eastwards to eventually join up with the this section includes hawthorn, willow and alder. Lane Railway Station ve aya Marsh Marigold Sidcup Howard Avenue y La Burnt Oak Cray Riverway at Hall Place. The walk is approximately In Spring white blossom appears on the hawthorn and follow the northernon Dri boundary fence of Sidcup Golf Course. Golf Coursee Willow Ecology TivertonTivert Drive 5 ¾ miles but it is possible to start and finish this walk enue its strong scent attracts many pollinating insects. Hornbeam st Av Gelnhurst Avenue Marlborough Park Avenue Hurst Road The alder woods along the banks of the at various points. In Autumn red fruits called haws develop in the Sidcup Golf CourseKeightley Drive Along both banks of the ViVicVicaraVicarage Road A222 c ara Lamorbey Mansion ra Maple Leaf Drive ge R Roa RRo Rivers Shuttle and Cray are amongst the river several alder trees can be seen. Alder seeds have oa fertilised flowers, and provide a valuable source of Roaoad a bank R B2214 d aver If starting from the Green Chain Walk major signpost BeaverBeaverbankeav Road London Loop or Halfway Street NorthNorNo Cray Road best in London. Alder prefer to live in Winter food for birds such as blackbirds, thrushes, air pockets that enable them to floatOakley and Drive so disperse Cray Riverway follow the way markers east that take you directly past Drive Thrush wet places and their fine root systems redwings and fieldfares. along rivers. The seeds are an important Winter food The Glade Avery Hill House. penetrate well below the water level for finches such as siskin, goldfinch and redpoll. Lamorbey Park At Days Lane cross over the road and enter Rutland Shaw Albany Park preventing bank erosion by holding the Longlands Railway Station Hollyoak Wood Park. soil together. OldOOlldd FFaFarmarmrm ParkPParPaara k A222 Hurst Road Sidcup Abbeyhillbb y illll PaParkarkr Alder RRailwayailway StatStStationion

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NorthNorth CraCrayy