Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Lewisham facts for kids

Blackheath is one of the largest open spaces in Greater London

Sayes Court Park, an old garden in Deptford, designed by John Evelyn

The lower part of Telegraph Hill Park

Lewisham parks and open spaces are like the "green lungs" of London. They offer many different types of places, from small city parks and gardens to big, historic natural areas like Blackheath. The London Borough of Lewisham looks after these parks.

Exploring Lewisham's Green Spaces

Lewisham has many wonderful green spaces for everyone to enjoy. These areas are important for nature and for people to relax and play. They include parks, gardens, and special nature spots.

Special Nature Spots

Lewisham has many places that are important for nature. These are called "Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation." There are 1185 acres (474 hectares) of these special areas. They help protect plants and animals.

Here are some of these important nature sites:

• Beckenham Place Park – This park is part of the Green Chain Walk and the Capital Ring. These are long walking routes around London.
• Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries – These are old Victorian cemeteries. They are important for both history and nature.
• Blackheath – This is one of the biggest open spaces in Greater London. It's an old landscape and a key home for nature. Lewisham and the Royal Borough of Greenwich manage it together. Blackheath is a large common land area.
• Deptford Creek – This is a part of a river that flows into the River Thames. The water level here changes with the tides.
• Hither Green Triangle – This area has grasslands and woods. It sits between railway lines. It became a nature reserve in 1993.
• Sue Godfrey Nature Park at Deptford – This park was once an industrial area. It was cleaned up and turned into a park. It is named after an environmental helper.

Lewisham also has "Local Nature Reserves." These are special places where nature is protected. They include:

• Beckenham Place Park
• Brookmill Road
• Burnt Ash Pond
• Dacres Wood
• Downham Woodland Walk
• Sue Godfrey Nature Park

Fun Local Parks

Lewisham has 45 parks for everyone to enjoy. Besides the nature areas, here are some other great parks:

• Brookmill Park – This park is next to the River Ravensbourne. It has grown bigger over the years. It is now part of National Cycle Route 21, which goes to the Sussex coast.
• Chinbrook Meadows – This park is by the River Quaggy. It is also part of the South East London Green Chain.
• Deptford Park – The local council has owned this park since 1897.
• Folkestone Gardens – This park was made in the 1970s. It was built on land badly damaged by a V-2 rocket in 1945. It has a large pond and a children's play area. It is part of the London Cycle Network.
• Forster Memorial Park – This park is in the Whitefoot and Bellingham areas.
• Hilly Fields – This is a large park between Brockley and Ladywell. It has a stone circle and amazing views of London. A weekly running event called Parkrun happens here.
• Ladywell Fields – This park is next to the railway line. It has sports facilities like an athletics track and tennis courts. It also has a small nature reserve.
• Manor House Gardens – These used to be the gardens of the Manor House in Lee. They have an ornamental pond.
• Mayow Park, Lower Sydenham – This is Lewisham's oldest park. It opened in 1878.
• Mountsfield Park, Catford – This park opened in 1905. The football team Charlton Athletic F.C. used it for two seasons.
• Sayes Court Park, Deptford – This park is located on the Thames Path, a walking trail along the River Thames.
• Sydenham Wells Park, Upper Sydenham – This park has old medicinal springs and water features. It also has formal gardens, sports courts, and tennis courts.
• Telegraph Hill Park, New Cross – This park is named after a semaphore telegraph that was once there. It was updated in 2004.