Forster Memorial Park

Forster Memorial Park

Forster Memorial Park contains a pocket of ancient woodland photo: Stuart Cankett, geograph.org.uk
Type public park
Location London, England
Coordinates 51°25′49″N 0°00′17″W / 51.430408°N 0.004838°W / 51.430408; -0.004838Coordinates: 51°25′49″N 0°00′17″W / 51.430408°N 0.004838°W / 51.430408; -0.004838
Area 17 hectares (42 acres)
Created 1922 (1922)
Operated by London Borough of Lewisham
Open 8am-sunset
Status Open year round
Website lewisham.gov.uk

Forster Memorial Park, is a public park in London Borough of Lewisham. It is located between Bellingham Road and Whitefoot Lane, Catford – an area still referred to as Southend or Southend Village. The nearest stations are Bellingham and Beckenham Hill.

History of the park

The land where the park now stands was donated by H.W. Forster, first MP for Bromley and later Governor General of Australia. The Forster family had lived at Southend Hall from the early 19th century (now demolished, but located near the junction of Bromley Road and Whitefoot Lane) and had a large estate covering what was then a rural outpost of London in the county of Kent. The land for the park was donated in memory of H.W. Forster’s two sons, Alfred and John Forster, who died in World War I, and was formally opened by his daughter in 1922.[1][2]

The park was expanded again in 1937, when further land to the north was bought from the Forster Estate Company.[1]

Layout and notable features

The park, which is accessed from Whitefoot Lane, extends to 17 hectares (42 acres) and is unusual for an urbanised area in that its central area of open grassland is surrounded by relict ancient woodland. This wood includes ash, hornbeam and oak trees. The woodland’s shrub layer has been found to include some wild service tree, a rare species in the UK that is almost exclusively found in ancient woods and hedgerows.[2] The area has been managed since 1999 by the borough’s environmental taskforce. Their work includes removal of invasive species, such as sycamore, and restoration of a more natural landscape.[1][2]

The park includes a children’s play area, BMX track, cycle route and cycling proficiency area and a football pitch.[3]

See also

Excalibur Estate

References

  1. 1 2 3 "London Gardens Online". London Gardens Online. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  2. 1 2 3 "Forsters". .lewisham.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  3. ↑ "Lewisham Council - Forster Memorial Park". Lewisham.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-07-10.

External sources

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