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 A review of 2025 in the Woods.

The big news of 2025 has been the start of the joint management of  Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods. This project is explained in the London Wildlife Trust website........

https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/projects/reuniting-sydenham-hill-and-dulwich 

Also, you can see this on the Dulwich Estate website

https://www.thedulwichestate.org.uk/whats-happening/work-underway-in-dulwich-and-sydenham-hill-woods 

This post will concentrate of how volunteers have been busy in Dulwich Wood  as it is here where a great deal of work needs to be done. However, of course, the year started with the great news that Cox's Walk footbridge was finally reopened. This has allowed planting to be carried out on the slopes which were severely damaged by people taking a short cut when the bridge was closed. Unfortunately, in May a bough from a neighbouring tree fell onto the bridge causing damage that resulted in its temporary closure. Great credit to the contractors who repaired that damage and reopened the bridge within a couple of months. 

Since April when the Reuniting the Woods project started, much of the volunteering effort has gone into managing Dulwich Wood. As always, dead-hedging has been carried out to discourage trampling but also to provide shelter for small mammals and invertebrates. 

Some new dead-hedging with an explanatory notice near the Low Cross Lane entrance 

 

A recent project has been to define an area near Five Ways which as become popular for informal gatherings such children's parties. The large clearing has been partly enclosed by dead-hedges and a clear entrance made from the path from Five Ways to Low Cross Lane. 
 
Entrance path to the clearing.

 
The gathering space defined. 

At the northern end of the clearing, a path leads visitors to the viewpoint, from which Dulwich and central London can be seen in the distance.

The view across the allotments to Dulwich College (middle distance) and central London beyond.

 

It is fair to say that the paths in Dulwich Wood have, until this year, been of variable quality and have been prone to become virtually impassible during the heavy and frequent rains of winter. However, as an important aspect of the Reuniting the Woods Project, contractors have been hard at work rebuilding the most heavily used paths. These have been raised and drainage installed in the sections prone to the worst flooding. The new surface has been laid with hoggin, (a self-binding sand commonly used for paths in nature reserves) which has a noticeable camber to help shed water. These new paths connect with similar in Sydenham Hill Wood and together create a network of all-weather walking routes within the Woods. 


A map of the new improved path network in Dulwich Wood.

 


 

Contractors improving the path from the Dewy Pond to Five Ways. 


New raised hoggin surface with camber to shed excess water.

The connecting path between Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Woods used to cross a bank which involved the use of steps and a handrail. Contractors have cut this down and laid a new level path to improve accessibility. 

Within Dulwich Wood, some areas have been fenced in to allow regeneration of ground cover plants which have virtually disappeared due to trampling. This causes compaction which can also cause stress to, and ultimately, weaken trees. Fallen leaves cannot rot down and return their nutrients to the soil and this reduces the activity of invertebrates and causes a decline in biodiversity. It might not be popular with some visitors but this illustrates the tension between freedom of access and conservation of the Wood itself. 

 

A healthy Wood can be enjoyed by all.

https://www.thedulwichestate.org.uk/whats-happening/we-need-your-help 


 

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