I was quite prepared for this lovely little centre to be closed and of course it was. I do know it well though and despite being squeezed between houses, it still manages to be full of interesting features in particular a reasonable-sized pond. There’s even a better class of pavement flora outside with a lovely […]

Yes I know this is a bit of a cheat because it doesn’t have a connection with the London Wildlife Trust but I was so excited when it re-opened last Wednesday and I couldn’t wait to go back there. It was warm, drizzly and so quiet!  The meadow areas were looking spectacular and there were […]

In the woodland clearing this morning, I like to think I notice the hint of rosy hue which wasn’t there last week.  It’s warm but fresh here after yesterday’s downpour. Up close to the scramble of plants on the old railway bank, I see that the cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata) is in flower, and through […]

I stumbled on this on my way home from Streatham Common and decided to include it. While this isn’t a London Wildlife Trust site, the information board says the charity was instrumental in preserving this as a woodland. It’s a very small remnant of Victorian gardens so it has both exotic trees and natives including […]

On the east side of Streatham Common there’s an area of woodland which I’ve never been to. I’ve always thought of Streatham Common as the more obvious grassy bit so it’s surprising to see how much woodland there is. There’s a downpour just after I’ve arrived so I spent quite a lot of my visit […]

Another surprising site which is part of the Great North Wood project, Biggin Wood is number 10 on my list and an easy walk from home. I spend some time looking for evidence of leaf miners on the brambles, which was the subject of this morning’s Country Diary.  I don’t find any but there are […]

One Tree Hill, Lewisham: High above the city, an ancient oak may remember the ancient woodland on this site   I climb the hill until I can look out over the city below. Whether the air pollution has really improved over lockdown I don’t know, but it smells fresh and cool up here at 90 metres […]

Well, it’s closed! But as I’m here, I spend some time peeking over the fence to look down into the reserve which is on the steep bank of the railway cutting. There is a tree on the edge of the reserve with shiny heart-shaped leaves and the characteristic fluffy white seeds of a black poplar […]

Looking at the park today as a remnant of the Great North Wood gives me a new perspective. I weave through the trees in the woodland walk and admire the muscular trunks of the sweet chestnut trees. The spikes of buds are evident but not yet in flower. Come July, their musky scent will fill […]

Although this joins onto Sydenham Wood, which I visit regularly, I don’t tend to spend much time in Dulwich Wood.  So I decide to today. Yellow flag irises are in flower around Dewey Pond, which has been extensively managed by London Wildlife Trust for the Wood owners Dulwich Estate. There are lots of young robins […]