Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Southwark facts for kids
The London Borough of Southwark is a part of London, England, located just south of the famous Tower Bridge and the River Thames. It's known for being one of the "greenest" areas in London! This means it has lots of parks and open spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Southwark boasts about 245 hectares (that's about 605 acres) of public parkland. To give you an idea, one hectare is roughly the size of two and a half football fields! There are over 130 green areas here, from big parks like Dulwich Park and Southwark Park to smaller sports fields and pretty squares.
Discover Southwark's Parks
Southwark is home to many wonderful parks and green areas. Here are some of the main ones you can explore:
- Belair Park: This park is about 10.6 hectares (26 acres) and is located north of West Dulwich railway station. It's a special place with a Grade II listed landscape, a lake, and sports facilities.
- Burgess Park: This is a very large park, covering about 47.62 hectares (117.7 acres). It's a great spot for many activities.
- Dulwich Park: Created in 1890, this park is 30.85 hectares (76.2 acres). It has beautiful garden areas and lots of sports facilities for different games.
- Elephant Park: A newer green space in the heart of the borough.
- Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park: This park is 5.94 hectares (14.7 acres) and surrounds the Imperial War Museum. It also includes the peaceful Tibetan Peace Garden.
- Goose Green: Found in East Dulwich, this green space is about 2 hectares (4.9 acres).
- Nunhead Cemetery: More than just a cemetery, this 20.37-hectare (50.3-acre) area is also a peaceful green space with lots of nature.
- One Tree Hill: This spot is 6.95 hectares (17.2 acres) and is near Honor Oak Park railway station. It offers great views.
- Peckham Rye Park and Common: Together with Piermont Green, this area is 42.75 hectares (105.6 acres). The park itself was built during the Edwardian period, a time in British history from 1901 to 1910.
- Potters Fields Park: A smaller park at 1.36 hectares (3.4 acres), located close to the River Thames.
- Russia Dock Woodland: This woodland covers 14.0 hectares (34.6 acres) and is a lovely place to walk among trees.
- Southwark Park: Opened in 1869, this park is 26.57 hectares (65.7 acres). It was one of the first parks opened by the Metropolitan Board of Works, a group that helped manage London's growth. It has gardens and sports facilities.
- Sydenham Hill Wood: This 9.39-hectare (23.2-acre) wood is a remaining part of a much larger ancient forest called the Great North Wood.
- Tabard Gardens: This green space is 1.762 hectares (4.35 acres).
Garden Squares
Some areas in Southwark are known for their beautiful garden squares. These are open spaces, often surrounded by buildings, with gardens in the middle. Some examples include:
- Addington Square
- Lorrimore Square
- West Square
The Riverside Walkway
Southwark is a "riverside borough" because it sits right next to the River Thames. The Thames itself is one of the biggest open spaces in the area, forming the northern edge of the borough.
Along the river, there's a special path called the Thames Path. This marked trail is perfect for both walking and cycling, offering amazing views of the river and the city.
The Bankside Open Spaces Trust is a group that helps look after some of the parks and open spaces in the northern part of Southwark, making sure they stay nice for everyone to enjoy.
Local Nature Reserves
Southwark also has special places called Local nature reserves. These are areas protected for their wildlife and natural beauty, where you can often see different plants and animals. The local nature reserves in Southwark include:
