Working in the Woods. An Introduction

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Working in the Woods

Why this blog?

Sydenham Hill Wood is a nature reserve managed by the London Wildlife Trust on behalf of Southwark Council. It adjoins Dulwich Wood which, in turn,  is managed by the Dulwich Estate. To the visitor, there seems to be no distinction between them,  however, careful observation will reveal a line of green wooden posts which mark the boundary between the two ownerships. Whereas Dulwich Wood is maintained by the Dulwich Estate, Sydenham Hill Wood is managed by a conservation officer, aided by a groups of volunteers who help to carry out the work necessary to keep the woods in good condition. 

The aim of this blog is to keep a record of what is done and why is is done, as  visitors often ask exactly those questions. 

This is not an official blog of the London Wildlife Trust. 

You can view their website here https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/.

Also , more specific to Sydenham Hill and the Great North Wood;

https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/sydenham-hill-wood-and-coxs-walk

https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/great-north-wood 

Where is Sydenham Hill Wood?

The Wood is located in South London on the border of the boroughs of Southwark and Lewisham. The closest railways stations are Sydenham Hill (South-eastern Trains), just on the western boundary of Dulwich Wood and Forest Hill (London Overground and Southern Trains), a ten to fifteen minute walk from the eastern boundary of Sydenham Hill Wood. 

 

Background to the Wood
 
Sydenham Hill Wood, along with Dulwich Wood are larger fragments of the former Great North Wood, which once stretched from Selhurst in the south to the banks of the Thames at Deptford. These woods were managed by local people to supply timber used for ship building, firewood, charcoal and tannin (for the leather industries of Southwark). As London grew, more of the Wood was taken for development until the present pattern of disparate fragments dotted throughout South London emerged

In the Eighteenth Century, John Cox, the owner of the Green Man pub (roughly where the Grove/Harvester is located today)  cut a path through the wood to connect his pub with Sydenham where a mineral spa had opened. This became known as Cox's Walk and today forms an extension of the wood, connecting it to the South Circular at the Grove Tavern junction.  In 1865 a railway was opened between Nunhead and Crystal Palace High Level. Built mainly to serve the Crystal Palace itself, the line cut through the wood before tunnelling under the ridge on its final approach to its terminus on Crystal Palace Parade. Just to the south of Lordship Lane Station, Cox's Walk was carried across the railway on a bridge which still stands today. This bridge was used by Camille Pissarro to paint the scene in 1871 (below).

 

  

The relocation of the Crystal Palace to Upper Sydenham in 1854, spurred the speculative development of Sydenham Hill as a new suburb. Large villas and mansions were built along the ridge of the hill northwards towards Forest Hill. However, neither the Crystal Palace or the suburb were as successful as had been hoped and the large mansions soon became sub-divided or turned into institutions like hostels, care homes and schools.  Post Second World War, they were in a sorry state and were demolished, the last one Beechgrove, lasting until 1983. The railway was used mainly for excursions and after the fire which destroyed the Crystal Palace in 1936, traffic became so light, the final train ran in 1954.

Plans were published in the 1980's for the construction of flats along Sydenham Hill but as the gardens and track bed of the old railway had reverted to woodland, a campaign to save the area as open land ultimately was successful. In 1982 the Wood became the first nature reserve of The London Wildlife Trust and it is now designated as Site of Metropolitan Importance. In 1998 Cox's Walk was added and in 2016 the further addition of the grounds of Beechgrove completed the present woodland area. 
 


The Wood is the area within the line and where it is broken marks the boundary with Dulwich Wood.


Today, both Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods provide a vital green space for the people of the surrounding areas. This year even more people have used the woods as a place to escape and relax, with weekly visitor numbers increasing threefold. Lockdown caused the suspension of volunteer working, so this, added to the increased traffic from visitors, resulted in the woods being under more pressure than ever. Conservation and management are even more vital as a result.


 



 


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