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Brockwell Park

A large and valuable open space serving Brixton, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill and beyond. It combines a variety of formal recreational facilities with large areas of open parkland, woodland and ponds.
The wetland features include a series of small ponds linked by a tributary of the River Effra on the western boundary of the park. On the banks of the steam are yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), fool's water-cress (Apium nodiflorum), pendulous sedge (Carex pendulosa), great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) and hemlock water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata). In the grassland around the stream grow cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) and patches of sweet vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum).
The northernmost pond is fairly secluded and contains an island of rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.) and bracken (Pteridium aquilinum). Purple-loostrife (Lythrum salicaria), buddleja (Buddleja davidii) and crack-willow (Salix fragilis) occur around the banks and common waterbirds inhabit the open water and overhanging vegetation. The central pond is fringed with a mixture of native and non-native trees including willow (Salix spp), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum) and blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica).
The main habitat in the park is the close-mown grassland, with a number of flowering plants appearing in patches less frequently mown. The area of rough or 'meadow' grassland in the park has been gradually extended over time and is now a well-defined area which is managed as an area of naturalised grassland. Pignut (Conopodium majus) and sheep's sorrel (Rumex acetosella), characteristic of acid grassland, are present.
There are fine examples of native trees in the park including two mature oaks (Quercus spp) in the south-east, which seem to belong to an old field boundary. There are numerous ornamental trees including maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) and Caucasian wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia). Small pockets of woodland occur, which would benefit from management. Birds such as sparrowhawks, nuthatches and green woodpeckers can be found.
There is also a walled Old English Garden in the middle of the park with popular flower displays and a small ornamental pond.
This site is used by the Lambeth Walks project - a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.

Site Type: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Borough: Lambeth
Ownership: London Borough of Lambeth
Habitats: Flower beds ; Planted shrubbery ; Scattered trees ; Secondary woodland ; Semi-improved neutral grassland ; Tall herbs ; Vegetated wall/tombstones

Transport: Train: Herne Hill
Underground: Brixton
Bus: 2, 3, 37, 68, 196, 201, 322, 432, 468



Related Links
Brixton Society walking trail
Friends of Brockwell Park
Brockwell Lido
Urban75
Lambeth Walks (WHI)

View of the main lake at Brockwell Park (photo: Mike Waite) Images and Sounds

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