Parks and open spaces in Southwark facts for kids

Dulwich Park in Southwark, London, England

The London Borough of Southwark, occupying a roughly triangular area south of Tower Bridge over the River Thames, considers itself to be one of the greenest boroughs in London, with its 245 hectares (610 acres) of public parkland. There are more than 130 such green areas, ranging from the large areas around Dulwich and Southwark Park in Rotherhithe to the many sports grounds and squares. The main ones are:

Belair Park: 10.6 hectares (26 acres) north of West Dulwich railway station: Grade II listed landscape, lake and sports facilities
Burgess Park: 47.62 hectares (117.7 acres)
Camberwell Green: 0.89 hectares (2.2 acres)
Dulwich Park: 30.85 hectares (76.2 acres) created in 1890; contains several garden areas, many sports facilities
Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park: 5.94 hectares (14.7 acres) surrounding the Imperial War Museum (also includes the Tibetan Peace Garden)
Goose Green: 2 hectares (4.9 acres)
Newington Gardens: 1.32 hectares (3.3 acres)
One Tree Hill: 6.95 hectares (17.2 acres) near Honor Oak Park railway station
Peckham Rye Park and Common with Piermont Green: 42.75 hectares (105.6 acres) The park is Edwardian.
Potters Fields Park: 1.36 hectares (3.4 acres)
Nunhead Cemetery: 20.37 hectares (50.3 acres)
Southwark Park: 26.57 hectares (65.7 acres) opened 1869, one of the earliest opened by the Metropolitan Board of Works: gardens, sports facilities
Sydenham Hill Wood: 9.39 hectares (23.2 acres) remains of the Great North Wood.

The centre of the following squares are laid to gardens:

Lorrimore Square
West Square

Riverside

Southwark is a riverside borough, and one of the largest open spaces is the River Thames itself, forming the northern boundary of the borough. A sign posted riverside trail forms a walkway for both pedestrians and cyclists.

The Bankside Open Spaces Trust is funded to manage some parks and open spaces in the north of the Borough.

Local Nature Reserves

Local Nature Reserves in the borough are Dulwich Upper Wood, Lavender Pond, Nunhead Cemetery, One Tree Hill and Sydenham Hill Wood and Fern Bank.