Oxleas Wood facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Greater London |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 72.7 hectares |
| Notification | 1984 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Oxleas Wood is a really old forest in southeast London. It's mostly in Eltham, which is part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Some parts of this amazing wood are over 8,000 years old! That's from the end of the last Ice Age.
Oxleas Wood is part of a bigger area of woods and parks. This includes places like Jack Wood, Castle Wood, and Eltham Park North. You can also find the historic Severndroog Castle here.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Oxleas Wood
Early Ownership and Public Access
In 1311, Oxleas Wood became part of the Royal manor of Eltham. Later, in 1679, a family called the Shaws leased and managed the woods. They looked after the forest until 1811. At that time, the War Department took over the land.
The good news is that in 1930, the London County Council bought the woods. They wanted to make sure everyone could enjoy them. So, in 1934, Oxleas Wood officially opened to the public! In 1986, the local council, the Borough of Greenwich, became the new owners.
Protecting the Wood: The 1993 Protest
In 1993, there were plans to build a big road right through Oxleas Wood. Many local people and groups were very upset about this. They formed a group called "People Against the River Crossing."
This group included residents, environmental organizations, and other community members. They all worked together to protect the woodland. Over 3,000 people promised to take part in peaceful protests to defend the trees. Because of their strong efforts, the plans for the road were stopped. Oxleas Wood was saved!
Exploring Oxleas Wood: What You'll Find
Special Nature Area
Oxleas Wood, along with Jack Wood and Shepherdleas Wood, is a very important place for nature. It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its unique plants and wildlife. The area covers about 72 hectares. That's like 178 football fields!
You'll see many types of trees here. There are oaks, silver birches, and hornbeams. You can also find coppice hazel and many beautiful Wild Service Trees. A larger area, including Eltham Common, is also a Local Nature Reserve.
Severndroog Castle and the Meadow
The site sits mostly at the top of Shooter's Hill. Here, you can visit a cool old building called Severndroog Castle. It looks like a small castle, but it's actually a "folly," built just for fun and views.
In the grassy area called Oxleas Meadow, there's an underground water reservoir. This reservoir helps supply water to the local homes. You might also see a small building nearby, which is used by Thames Water to control the reservoir.
Cafe and Bees
Right in Oxleas Meadow, there's a cozy cafe. It's a brick building owned by the Borough of Greenwich. You can grab a snack or a drink there. Public toilets are also available in the same building during the cafe's opening hours.
Deep within the woods, there's a busy honeybee apiary. An apiary is a place where bees are kept. This one is called the Oxleas Wood Apiary. It's a great spot for honeybees to thrive and make honey!
Images for kids
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Pond on the south side of Oxleas Wood
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Trees in the Jack Wood area of Oxleas
