Explore Eardley Road Sidings – the community woodland in an urban setting Nature Reserve lish oak g En
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Welcome to a wonderful woodland full of wildlife in the heart of Streatham Vale.
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History Eardley Road sidings in the 1950s, looking south-west (left) and south-east (right)
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Images reproduced with the kind permission of the family of Mr. D. Cullum, and taken from London Suburban Railways: Mitcham Junction Line (1992 Middleton Press)
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In 1868 the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway connected Streatham and Mitcham with the rest of London. This included railway sidings, depot yards and repair sheds, which were first built on this site in 1905, but these gradually declined in use and were finally abandoned in the 1960s. When the sidings were abandoned nature reclaimed the land, and since then trees like silver birch, hawthorn and oak, which thrive in these conditions, gradually colonised the site.
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In 2015 the nature reserve got a major overhaul. Supported by capital funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and with the help of over 1000 volunteers from TCV, the community volunteering charity, a new path, picnic benches, a new entrance slope and a pond have been installed. The site is now used regularly by local schools and nurseries as learning and nature play area. It is planned to have the site declared a ‘Local Nature Reserve’ (LNR) to recognise its importance for local communities and give it greater protection.
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The reserve today – a safe place for people & wildlife
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The nature reserve contains a mixture of grassland, shrubs and woodland. Common bramble and dog rose shrubs provide valuable cover and food for wild mammals like foxes, grey squirrels, hedgehogs and wood mice. In the summer the meadows are buzzing with butterflies like gatekeeper, red admiral, small white, common blue and speckled wood.
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Woodland
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Signature tree
Pond
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Picnic area
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Come and explore this little nature gem and have a rest on the benches, listen to the birds, build a den or enjoy a picnic with friends.
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Eardley Road sidings is managed by Lambeth Parks and Open Spaces in partnership with the local community. For more information please contact Lambeth Council on 020 7926 9000 or email parks@lambeth.gov.uk Pictures used under Creative Commons licence. Photos: Andreas Trepte, F Franklin, Tony Hisgett, Luc Viator, Luis Garcia, Tristan Ferne, Frank Vassen, Captainpixel, Ian Kirk, Donald Macauley, Revital Salomon, Alves Gaspar, C J Sharp, Gaudete, Hans Hillewaert, Gilles San Martin, E Zelenko, Saethwr, F Xaver, M Karatay, Nikanos, George Chernilevsky.
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This woodland is a space for people & wildlife. Please help us to keep it clean, green and safe for all to use and enjoy.
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The woodland code
· Please take your litter home or use the bins provided. · Guard against all risks of fire, take extra care when discarding cigarette butts. · Avoid harming any wildlife. · Respect others using the site. · Keep your dog under control at all times. · In the interest of hygiene and to reduce any risk of disease, please clean-up after your dog. Use the bins provided to discard the waste. · Keep out of any designated conservation areas created for the protection of wildlife.
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To maintain the woodland, trees and shrubs are cut back in winter. The cuttings are piled up between stakes to form dead hedges. This is beneficial to insects and fungi and provides feeding and nesting grounds for birds such as robin, wren, blackbird, jay, wood pigeon, magpie, blue & great tit and great spotted woodpecker –all of which have been seen in the woods.
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