Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Crossways Lake Nature Reserve and Thameside Walk Scrub
Borough: Bexley
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 5.1 ha

Description

The site is made up of two separate areas, linked by the Thames Path as it bends around to pass Cross Ness. To the west is the Crossway Lake Nature Reserve and to the east is Thamesview Golf Course, which includes a golf driving range near the river. Along with the riverbank, they offer a number of habitats, including heavily mown grassland, planted woodland, a riverbank wall and small ponds with reedbeds.

Wildlife

Crossways Lake is a small, reed-fringed lake with a wooded island, at the north end of the Thamesmead canal system. Grey herons have been reported nesting, and other breeding birds include reed warbler and a good range of common waterfowl. The Thameside Walk Scrub consists of a strip of land of scrub and some semi-improved grassland bordering the River Thames. It supports a number of common species and is of value to migrating birds such as the common whitethroat and lesser whitethroat.

Facilities

The Thames Path follows the riverbank.
Roesel's bush-cricket © Mike Waite

Roesel’s bush-cricket © Mike Waite
Hare's-foot clover © Mike Waite

Hare’s-foot clover © Mike Waite

Feedback

Have a question or a comment for this site, or notice anything missing or out of date? Please contact us.

Find out more

More information on GiGL’s SINC dataset can be found here.

Additional information, including other site designations and species recorded onsite and nearby, can be provided in community and client data search reports. Request information here.