Braeburn Park facts for kids
Braeburn Park is a wonderful nature reserve in Crayford, a town in the London Borough of Bexley. It's a big area, about 22.3 hectares, which is like 30 football fields! This special place is looked after by the London Wildlife Trust, an organization that helps protect nature. Inside Braeburn Park, you'll find a very important spot called Wansunt Pit. It's a 1.9-hectare area that's known as a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a place where the rocks and landforms are very important for science.
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What is Braeburn Park?
Braeburn Park is a large green space where nature can thrive. It's a "nature reserve," which means it's protected to help plants and animals live safely. The London Wildlife Trust works hard to keep the park healthy. They make sure different types of habitats are available for all sorts of creatures.
A Special Scientific Spot
One of the most interesting parts of Braeburn Park is Wansunt Pit. This small area is a "geological SSSI." This title is given to places that have unique rocks, fossils, or land features. Scientists study these areas to learn about Earth's history. Wansunt Pit helps us understand how the land around Crayford was formed over many years.
The History of Braeburn Park
Braeburn Park wasn't always a nature reserve. A long time ago, this land was used for growing food. People had "market gardens" here, which are like big farms that grow fruits and vegetables to sell. There were even orchards filled with fruit trees. For a while, a place called the Old Crayford Gun Club was also located here.
From Quarry to Nature
Later, like many areas nearby, Braeburn Park became a "quarry." This means people dug up the land to get materials like sand. They dug out a lot of sand from this site. After many years of quarrying, the land was filled in with waste in the 1980s. This process is called "landfilling." Once the quarry was closed, the land was left alone. Slowly, nature started to take over again. Plants grew, and animals returned, turning the old quarry into the green space we see today.
Wildlife at Braeburn Park
Today, Braeburn Park is home to many different types of plants and animals. It has several "habitats," which are natural homes for wildlife. You can find areas of "ruderal scrub," which are bushy plants that grow in disturbed ground. There are also open grasslands and peaceful woodlands.
Amazing Insects and Reptiles
The park is a great place for insects. Scientists have found many different kinds of "invertebrates" here. Some of these are quite rare, like skipping flower beetles and picture-winged flies. These tiny creatures are an important part of the park's ecosystem.
You can also find a pond in the park, which is a perfect home for water-loving animals. Many common bird species visit or live here, making it a good spot for birdwatching. If you're lucky, you might even spot some reptiles! The park is home to grass snakes, common lizards, and slow-worms. Slow-worms look like small snakes but are actually a type of legless lizard.
Protecting Braeburn Park
In the year 2000, a large group of houses called Braeburn Park was built nearby by a company called Taylor Wimpey. As part of this development, there was a promise to create a new nature area next to the houses.
A New Nature Area
It took some time, but in 2014, a new 17-hectare nature conservation area was finally added. This was made possible thanks to the hard work and support from two important groups: The Land Trust and the London Wildlife Trust. They helped manage the land and make sure it was a safe place for nature. This addition helps protect even more wildlife in the area.
Visiting Braeburn Park
If you want to visit Braeburn Park, you can find access points from Lower Station Road and Galloway Drive in Crayford. It's a great place to explore and learn about local wildlife.
