Just off the Old Kent road and located on the edge of a social housing estate, the grounds of Northfield House Council flats have been transformed into a wildlife haven, with three gardens supporting a range of habitats. The garden is owned by the Council and managed by the Tenants Group with assistance from the London Wildlife Trust. The site could make an ideal demonstration garden to show local residents what can be achieved in their own community spaces and the value it could bring.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Northfield House Wildflower Meadow
Borough: Southwark
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.17 ha
Description
Wildlife
The largest garden contains a wildflower meadow with a good range and frequency of herbs. Scattered trees include a large number of fruit bearing species, including apple and fig. A small pond overgrown with bramble scrub supports common frog. A long, native hedgerow dominated by hawthorn and elder forms the eastern boundary, adjacent to the road. Proposals are to lay an overgrown hedge along the eastern boundary to improve its value to nesting birds. If undertaken, it is likely to be one of very few laid hedgerows in Southwark, and probably the only one on a housing estate. Two other smaller gardens along the northern boundary support abundant herbaceous planting and shrubberies, raised beds, improved grassland and scattered trees. Some notable species include hop, hazel and fig, of value to important pollinators. Walls along the western and northern boundaries are over-spilling with abundant climbers including hop, Virginia creeper and shrubs of known value for wildlife. Even the wall adjacent to car-parking is not left bare. Wren and house sparrows have been recorded.Facilities
Community garden
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