St Leonard’s is the parish church of Streatham and represents the centre of the original village. A well-used footpath passes through St Leonard’s Churchyard connecting Tooting Bec Gardens to Streatham High Road, providing a brief glimpse of nature to its users. The northern and western ends of the churchyard are the quietest, and here the fine collection of tombstones can best be appreciated. The churchyard has never been cultivated or developed. A major restoration took place in 1999, and there are now regular working parties to keep the churchyard in good order.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Churchyard of St Leonard's, Streatham
Borough: Lambeth
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.51 ha
Description
Wildlife
The churchyard features a number of fine mature trees, especially along the perimeter, including a cedar-of-Lebanon, common lime, hornbeam, yew, walnut and a Lucombe oak. The turf between the tombs and headstones retains a diversity of wildflowers, including selfheal, cat's-ear and dwarf mallow. Selheal was once prized as a cure for sore throats. In the less-frequently mown borders around the tombstones, a variety of native and naturalised wildflowers occur such as yellow corydalis, green alkanet, greater celandine, hedge woundwort, enchanter's-nightshade and the uncommon wall lettuce. Bramble forms small areas of scrub, where blackbirds, wrens and dunnocks have all bred.Facilities
No information available
Self-heal © Mike Waite
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