Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

The extensive ancient woodland contains mature, high canopy trees of English oak, sessile oak, horse chestnut, sweet chestnut, ash, Turkey oak and beech. The interior is a dense tangle of regenerating trees and scrub including a number of locally uncommon plants indicative of ancient woodland including wild service-tree, Solomon's-seal, scaly male-fern and abundant bluebells. Standing and fallen dead wood abound throughout and are known to support a wide range of fungi. The wetland area is known to support uncommon lichens but the habitat is drying out and consists mainly of willow with an understorey of flag iris, pendulous sedge and common nettle. The golf course roughs support large expanses of acid grassland with abundant sheep's sorrel. Several locally rare species have also been recorded including dwarf gorse, trailing St. John's-wort, blinks, fern grass and sand spurrey. Large areas of dry, neutral and amenity grassland provide further grassland diversity. Also on the golf course are a number of ancient (veteran) oak trees and numerous sand bunkers, which provide micro-habitats for invertebrates. The maturity and range of habitats present are known to support a diverse invertebrate fauna, including several nationally rare and notable beetles including the stag beetle, a Lewisham flagship species. The breeding avifauna is similarly diverse and includes kingfisher (a Lewisham flagship species), tawny owl, greater spotted woodpecker, little egret and kestrel.

Facilities

Information (visitor centre, run by the Friends of Beckenham Place Park); car parking; historic features; toilets; refreshments; waymarked walking route; cycle paths; play areas