The woodland surrounding the Hillcrest Estate is almost certainly a remnant of the Great North Wood, the ancient woodland that once extended from Deptford to Croydon. This has however, suffered much disturbance – first with the construction of the Nunhead to Crystal Palace railway line in the mid-19th century, and then the building of the Hillcrest Estate a century later. The only direct surviving reminder of the ancient woodland is some old oak and sweet chestnut trees and perhaps some of the ground flora. The railway closed in 1954, but much of the route, including two tunnels, is still visible.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Hillcrest Estate Woodland
Borough: Lewisham
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 7.22 ha
Description
Wildlife
The woodland canopy is chiefly composed of mature pedunculate oak and sweet chestnut trees, with some ash and sycamore particularly on steeper slopes. The ground flora includes abundant nettle and bramble, as well as more interesting species such as wall lettuce, ramsons, bluebell and creeping soft-grass. On the steeper slopes, the woodland has a better structure. Here, the ground flora includes typical woodland species such as broad buckler-fern, pendulous sedge, and red campion. Within the woodland there is a spring, adding to the habitats on the site. Wet conditions here have encouraged the growth of great horsetail. This is a species uncommon in the London area. Most of the familiar birds of parks and gardens can be found here, many of them breeding, but more unusual species to be seen include willow warbler and little owl.Facilities
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