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New Developments in the Wood

It's been a few months since the last post and  the rhythm of work in the Wood has settled down to general maintenance of paths, fences and dead hedges, along with routine surveys of the wildlife that makes its home here.

However, there are two major developments which, it is expected,  will bring huge benefits to the Wood and its users in the near future. 

Firstly, the Wildlife Trust has been successful in its bid for funding to put together a plan to reunite both Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods. Although, in effect, the same fragment of the Great North Wood, they have very different characteristics and management. 

The majority of Sydenham Hill Wood lies to the east of the old railway track alignment of the High Level line that used to bring visitors to Crystal Palace. Closed in 1954, the route has, in parts returned to nature and the longest section of this runs through the Wood to the tunnel which took it through the ridge to the site of Upper Sydenham Station. The steeply sloping eastern section is the site of large Victorian villas and their gardens (see previous posts for the historical background). This area is managed by the London Wildlife Trust on behalf of Southwark Council. 

Dulwich Wood lies to the west of the old railway and it is a flatter area which spreads across to Sydenham Hill Station and Grove Lane, bordering the grounds of Dulwich College and Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Club. This area of woodland is managed by the Dulwich Estate. 

It is the aim of the Wildlife Trust to manage both areas as a single entity and help to mitigate the effects of the high level of footfall from visitors. This will improve greatly the ability of the ecosystem to thrive in an area of high population and subsequent use. 

Full details of this exciting scheme can be found at this website.....

The second development is that work has, at long last started on the reconstruction and restoration of the Cox's Walk Footbridge. Closed for nearly four years and subject of a local campaign to save two mature oak trees, the bridge should be rebuilt and reopened by next spring. The link below will take you to a detailed explanation as to the plans for the bridge.

At the time of writing, scaffolding is being erected to prepare for work to begin in earnest.

Scaffolding is in place and the bridge deck has been cleared of four years accumulated ivy and dead leaves.


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