Sydenham Hill Wood Work

 A Review of 2024 The year has seen both general maintenance carrying on but also it has been dominated by the reopening of Cox's Walk footbridge.  The years started with storms and heavy rain which cause water-logging in many low lying areas of the Wood. However, the extensive work improving paths paid off with no main through ways being made impassable or difficult to use.  At the beginning of November, after many delays, Cox's Walk footbridge was reopened. An excellent job has been done and it is expected that the bridge will need no further major work for many decades to come.   Volunteers have worked hard to repair the damage done to the Wood during the five years the  bridge was closed. Although a diversion was put in place, fences were broken down and some people preferred to slide down the muddy cutting and up the other side. Since the bridge reopened, dead hedges and new fencing have closed off this unofficial route and extensive planting of new bushes ...

Cox's Walk Entrances  Volunteers have been working on improving the state of the entrances to the Wood on either side of the bridge. During nearly five years of closure, the concentrated footfall had churned up the ground at both entrances, the western side becoming a soggy quagmire each time it rained.  Newly improved surface at the western entrance At the western entrance, a subsurface of broken bricks was bedded in and on top of this, crushed aggregate was laid and then tamped down to create a firmer and, hopefully, better drained surface.  On the eastern side, the lower steps were repositioned and a new surface of aggregate laid to reduce water retention and to make it less slippery in wet weather. The lower step was extended over to the kissing gate and a new surface laid at the entrance. Finally, the lowest level, behind the new brick step, was resurfaced and tamped down.  It is hoped that the new surfaces will prevent further erosion at both entrances and...

Open At Last   Cox's Walk Footbridge has been reopened at long last! Putting the final touches to the newly reopened bridge The bridge closed with little warning at the end of 2019,  as a result of concerns about structural movements in the brick abutments at each end. The plans to rebuild were derailed when it emerged that two mature oak trees were to be felled to allow heavy machinery access to the site. A campaign to save the oaks delayed these plans, a court ruling found in favour of the protestors and a blanket tree preservation order was placed on the Wood. Southwark Highways went back to the drawing board to produce a plan which would have a much lower impact on the Wood and leave the oaks in situ.  The result is the newly renovated bridge we see today.  This is excellent news as it allows the Trust's members to work hard on repairing the severe damage nearly five years of trampling have done to the Wood in the vicinity of the bridge. Already, a new ...

August Update (2024) August has brought some warm, dry weather to the Wood, although after the wet spring, the number of butterflies observed in surveys is very low. However, during a butterfly survey  in the middle of the month, a Brown Argus was spotted and it is thought that it is the first time this species has been seen in Sydenham Hill Wood. Brown Argus butterfly ( Photo - Butterfly Conservation ) More exciting visitors to the Wood have been a pair of hobbies. They have been seen and heard frequently in the Wood. These small raptors are summer migrants and again, it is thought this is the first time they have nested here. This has been the cause of much consternation of other birds like jays and parakeets, although hobbies tend to eat dragonflies and smaller birds, being able to catch swifts and swallows on the wing.  More can be found out about hobbies by clicking on this link. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/birds/hobby/ Hobby ( Photo ...

July Update  The reconstruction of the Cox's Walk bridge is moving along. The eastern abutment has been rebuilt with blockwork and an outer skin of bricks. On the western side, the old abutment has been removed and a concrete pad laid ready for reconstruction to take place. The eastern abutment has been demolished and the concrete pad laid ready for the reconstruction of the walls. Elsewhere in the Wood, the wet spring and the protection provided by fencing have resulted in healthy regrowth of ground cover. The initial cover of grasses has now been augmented by new shrubs.  This area was fenced in about six years ago and what was once bare soil is now supporting a healthy shrub layer. There are some areas in the Wood, where brambles and ivy have been cleared and it is very pleasing to see these areas being colonised by foxgloves. Foxgloves taking advantage of the protection afforded by dead-hedging. 

June Update  Progress on the bridge. Following the delays with the transportation of the artificial wood to replace the existing superstructure, it is unlikely that Cox's Walk Footbridge will be completed and reopened before the autumn. However, there have been some major developments with the reconstruction. The eastern abutment had to be demolished and new footings installed ready for the rebuilding process to start. It is likely that the same will need to be done to the western abutment.  The old abutment has been removed. A week later (5th June) and new concrete footings are in place. Elsewhere in the Wood Volunteers have worked in the main footpath leading from the entrance of Crescent Wood Road down to the Folly via the "tennis court glade" and the Cedar. New edging has helped to define the path and in places, new surfacing was laid.  Path clearly defined by new edging.  It has been great to see the benefits of selective fencing and dead hedging becom...