Sydenham Hill Wood Work

Meet Sam Sydenham Hill Wood's new Project Officer, Sam Taylor, speaks about his role in protecting the Wood.    Sam read Geography at Leeds University, gaining a BA (Hons). He started in his present role at the start of March last year, however, he had been in place for only a couple of weeks before the first lock-down was imposed. Since then, he has had to manage much of the maintenance and conservation work alone, as volunteering has been suspended for all but a few weeks of this period.   Sam getting to grips with clearing the small pond by the glade.   Life before the Wood.   I have a particular interest in trees in the urban environment.   In my last job before coming to the London Wildlife Trust,  I worked for a charity called Trees for Cities . I was responsible for managing tree planting projects delivered with volunteers across London and the subsequent maintenance of the trees until their establishment. This included street trees, planting ...

Oaks update This week, on Tuesday, the planning application to fell the two mature oaks on the western side of Cox's Walk Bridge, submitted by Southwark Highways Department, has been rejected. Furthermore, the whole of Sydenham Hill Wood and Cox's Walk has been placed under a provisional Tree Protection Order (TPO). This is very good news indeed as it should raise the level of protection for our amazing woodland. However, the TPO is only for six months and in that time it will be reviewed.   The management of the Wood will be able to continue, as coppicing and removal of invasive shrubs such as cherry laurel is vital to its ecological health. Its is hoped that the Highways Department will rethink its approach to this problem and that it will consult and work constructively with stakeholders to take forward a more sustainable solution to the restoration of the bridge. In the year since the bridge has been closed, great damage has been done to the ecologically sensitive area of ...

New Year Mystery In the last couple of days it seem that someone has padlocked the gates at both the Crescent Wood Road entrance and the Cox's Walk entrance.   Let's be clear that this was done without any knowledge or involvement of the London Wildlife Trust, be it the conservation officer or any of the volunteers.   There are no notices explaining the reason for this so there is no clue as to whether these closures are official or an act of vandalism.  In any respect, it is irresponsible, there being reports of people trapped in the Wood as darkness fell and not being able to find the way out.    Main entrance to Cox's Walk by The Grove junction   Crescent Wood Road entrance