This tiny nugget of green consists of a partially wooded hillside, circular in shape but with an angular extension towards the west. It is surrounded by houses and makes quite an impressive sight when viewed from Chessington North station. On the 1838 enclosure map, this area is marked as ‘Gooseberry Hill’ and once lay at the edge of Surbiton Common.A narrow path leads between the houses from The Causeway into the park. On three sides a belt of woodland partially hides the surrounding houses from view.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Causeway Copse
Borough: Kingston upon Thames
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.8 ha
Description
Wildlife
The woodland is largely composed of pedunculate oaks that, though mature, are not of great age. Other species found here include lime, false acacia, sycamore and birch. Shrubs such as hawthorn, hazel and dogwood are also present. There is little understorey to the copse apart from some bramble and a scattering of ruderal flora. The park margins have a range of planted native species including hazel and blackthorn, as well as a few fruit trees.Facilities
Playground.
Oak leaves in spring © Mike Waite
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