Dacres Wood is a small nature reserve beside the railway line between Forest Hill and Sydenham. The nature reserve is chiefly secondary woodland developed on the site of two former Victorian houses. The nature reserve is kept locked for security reasons, but can be accessed by prior arrangement. The site is frequently visited by schools and conservation volunteers.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Dacres Wood Nature Reserve and Sydenham Park railway cutting
Borough: Lewisham
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Access by prior arrangement
Area: 2.43 ha
Description
Wildlife
The woodland is dominated by several huge Turkey oaks. Beneath these are other trees, particularly pedunculate oak, sycamore and ash. Hawthorn, elder, holly and a few exotic species dominate the shrub layer. The ground flora is largely composed of ivy and bramble. The two ponds on the site are remnants of the old Croydon Canal. Water plants growing in the larger of the two include water plantain, fool's-watercress, reed sweet-grass, soft rush, water mint and crack willow. Many of the familiar birds of parks and gardens can be found here, including blackcap, chiffchaff and nuthatch. Insects include stag beetle and both purple and white-letter hairstreak butterflies.Facilities
No information available
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