Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

A large part of this site is covered in oak-ash woodland. Other trees include hornbeam, some very large horse-chestnuts, lime and poplar. The shrub layer includes hawthorn, blackthorn, garden privet, elder and snowberry. The ground flora is chiefly ivy and bramble, with a few other species such as cow parsley, lesser periwinkle, garden Solomon's-seal and daffodil. The woodland supports a number of common birds including great spotted woodpecker, blackcap, willow warbler, chaffinch and the declining bullfinch.A small pond has been created in the southwest of the site (near the railway) and this has been planted with yellow iris, soft rush, watercress and brooklime. The pond supports a breeding population of smooth newts. There are areas of hawthorn, dog-rose, bramble and plum scrub to the north of the woodland, providing habitat for whitethroat and lesser whitethroat. Next door is a more open area of neutral grassland, with wildflowers including agrimony, wild carrot, meadow vetchling, common vetch and stone parsley. Ant hills of the yellow meadow-ant are scattered throughout the grassland, and these attract green woodpeckers. Atop of these bask common lizards.Beside the railway is an almost continuous tract of tor-grass, dominating a large part of the central and southern area. This species is known nowhere else in Lewisham borough and is generally uncommon in Greater London, being more usually found on chalk or limestone. In the north this grassland is more diverse and contains an array of common wildflowers such as bird's-foot-trefoil, common knapweed, tufted vetch and agrimony. Also here are a couple of far less common species including zigzag clover and hedge bedstraw. The grassland supports a diversity of insects including a good number of butterflies and moths.

Facilities

The Green Chain Walk and Capital Ring pass the entrance to the Nature Reserve.