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Ruskin Park

Originally the private grounds of the 18th century Dane House, this fine rolling park was opened to the public in 1907. Some features of the original house and grounds, such as the porch with pairs of columns, the old pond, and the magnificent tree collection can still be found. The park is named after the Victorian scholar and critic John Ruskin, who lived locally.
The central feature is the pond, one of the park's main attractions. Encircling trees include aspen (Populus tremula), ornamental cherry (Prunus spp) and Caucasian wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia), as well as the Chinese corkscrew willow (Salix babylonica "Tortuosa"). Tall fringing vegetation of great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum), purple-loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), water figwort (Scrophularia auriculata), Indian balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and pendulous sedge (Carex pendula) provides shelter for resident moorhens, mallards and Canada geese.
Dense shrubberies have been planted with a mix of native and exotic species, which provide nesting areas for common birds including blackbirds, robins and dunnocks. The park's history has resulted in the presence of a number of unusual trees, which include Judas-tree (Cercis siliquastrum), maidenhair tree (Gingko bilboa), ashleaf maple (Acer negundo) and Indian bean-tree (Catalpa bignonioides).
The wider, western area of the park consists mainly of open amenity grassland and scattered trees, and has a great view across central London.

Site Type: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Borough: Lambeth
Ownership: London Borough of Lambeth
Habitats: Amenity grassland ; Flower beds ; Planted shrubbery ; Pond/lake ; Scattered trees

Transport: Train: Denmark Hill
Bus: 40, 42, 68, 176, 185, 468, 484, P4



Related Links
About John Ruskin
Lambeth Council
London Parks & Gardens Trust
Judas tree

Robin (photo: Andy Fisher) Images and Sounds

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