Hillcrest Wood is on the other side of Sydenham Hill ridge from Sydenham Hill Wood and is where the the old rail line to the Crystal Palace emerges from the tunnel. 

This small but precious green space narrowly escaped development in 2018 when Lewisham Council in the from of Lewisham Homes withdrew a planning application made to itself following a campaign from concerned residents.

It’s late in the afternoon on a muggy day and the air is thick with the scent of sweet chestnut flowers, which frankly can only be described as smelling of semen. Some of the leaves have round reddish galls which I look up later to find that they are the work of the Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp.

In a clearing, Enchanter’s Nightshade which, although an annoying weed in my garden, is elegantly delicate here in its natural setting. There’s a patch of Foxgloves too, catching the last streaks of sunlight on their glossy trumpets.