Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

Elthorne Park has an excellent mosaic of habitats supporting many different plants and animals. Some areas are left unmanaged where natural processes are allowed to proceed unhindered. In other areas the grassland is mown to a number of varying regimes resulting in several different grassland communities. Further variation comes from a range of soil types as part of the park is on restored landfill. Low-level rabbit grazing provides further diversity. Some uncommon plants occur in the shorter turf including spotted medick, lesser chickweed and small-flowered crane's-bill. Well Meadow in the south-east of the site is surrounded by woodland and scrub. The grassland is on a slope and although rabbits graze part of this, longer grass predominates. Wild onion is particularly frequent in this field, which also contains grass vetchling. The pond is rather shaded, but supports a dense community of wetland plants dominated by yellow iris and great reedmace. Other species here include greater spearwort, which is rare in London.

Facilities

Playground; cycle paths; public art; sculptures/ monuments