The Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve is opening the reserve for the last time this year as we close over the winter months. Come and have a look at our six new information boards funded partly by the Kenneth White Legacy and The Worshipful Company of Gardeners and also come and explore this green quiet oasis and support us.
We will be also having the usual children’s Mini Beast hunt and also a tree trail will be available.
Suggested Donation £2
Bring a picnic and enjoy the nature listen to the birds and see the bees.
Sorry No Dogs or BBQS allowed
Please use public transport or use a bike we have limited bike secure area
Honor Oak Park Station: London Overground & Southern Rail
Entrance on Beadnell Road next to Garthorne Road alleyway.
The Friends will be reopening the Garthorne Road Nature Reserve for this year so the public can explore this quiet oasis in Forest Hill and see what will have been doing to improve the site over the winter shutdown. Bring along a picnic
Our Open Days are on the Third Saturday of each month from March – October.
March 18th
April 15th
May 20th
June 17th – Nature in Art
July 15th
August 19th
September 16th – Annual Bake-off
October 21st
Sorry No Dogs, BBQ’S or cycling allowed on the reserve
The Friends are open the reserve today come and have a look around to see the wildlife and bring a picnic along if you want. .There will be some children activities such as hunting mini beasts as well a Tree Trail sheet as well.
Suggested donation £2 Please note there are no toilets on the site. Sorry No Dogs or BBQ’S please.
The Garthorne Road Nature Reserve is run wholly by volunteers. Any profits or donations are used to maintain or improve the Nature Reserve and provide educational events for the local community. Donations to the reserve is welcomed.
The Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve conduct monthly volunteer days are on the second Saturday of each month and starts at 11am – 3.30pm. We meet at main entrance on Beadnell Road. The work ranges from controlling non-native species to surveying and recording the many wildlife species. if you wish to join us please reserve a place.
Further information can be found on the Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Volunteering page.As per government guidance, Covid-19 restrictions ended on Monday 19th July 2021 across England. However, the Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve will still maintain certain precautions across various areas of operation and Lewisham Council Nature Conservation managers have been given the choice to incorporate elements of previous guidance in order to make ourselves and volunteers feel comfortable and safe whilst volunteering.
How to find us: Main gate is at North end of Beadnell Road next to the alleyway to Garthorne Road.
On a nice warm winter day three volunteers arrived and once signed in we then go to the railway loop path where we was going to construct a dead hedge from the brash from the Network Rail work which was done to prevent leaves on the line. The volunteers also cut back regrowth of Ash, Sycamore and the invasive Holm Oak also cleared a large oak that had blown over on to the ‘live’ rail and could of caused a problem to commuters?. We tied it with rope and cut it back to the fence-line and incorporated the cut wood in to the dead hedge.
The Friends are restarting their Conservation volunteering after the break and we be extending the session to 2 per month during the winter and will be doing a range of jobs such as constructing dead hedges to clearing invasive species to improve the sites biodiversity if you are interested please click one of the button below to book your place for the forthcoming dates.
Saturday 8th January 2022
and
Saturday 22nd January
Please book your place go to Garthorne Road Nature Reserve volunteering page. Please bring lunch and drinking water and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and sturdy shoes (preferably steel toe cap boots). Please bring own work gloves if you have your own?, as we have limited amount and will be washed after use.There is no toilets on site you can find a bush if requiredTickets will be offered on a first come first serve basis. There will be a waitlist so if you book a ticket but something comes up and you can no longer attend please cancel your ticket on Eventbrite so that it will become available for someone else.We’ll continue to maintain the following precautions: Volunteer numbers will be limited per session (may increase or decrease depending on site/activity).Please do not attend if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been asked to isolate by the NHS Test and Trace.If you do have Covid-19 symptoms or need to isolate and get tested, please inform me should you test positive after recently attending a volunteer session. I will then inform other attendees and advise/take the necessary safety precautions.
Public Transport:
Nearest Railway Station: Honor Oak Park (10 mins), Buses: Honor Oak Park P4,P12 (10 mins), Brockley Rise : 122,171,171 (10 mins), Stanstead Road 185,122 (15 mins)
Lewisham’s parks and green spaces have been awarded their highest-ever number of Green Flags, the award given to the very best green spaces in the UK.
The latest green spaces in Lewisham to be given prestigious Green Flag Community Awards are Garthorne Road and Dacres Wood, managed by Lewisham Council with the help of the Friends groups.
In partnership with local groups Lewisham Council has also successfully retained its three existing Community Green Flags for Grove Park and Devonshire Road nature reserves and Albion Millennium Green, as well as its sixteen Green Flags for other parks and green spaces in the borough.
The Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for the annual Green Flag Awards, which are based on a set of robust criteria, including accessibility, community involvement, cleanliness and biodiversity.
Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve with their award,
Lewisham Council, in partnership with Glendale, manages 47 parks and 15 nature reserves in the borough – each with its own unique character and environment. The last 18 months have seen public green spaces play a vital role for residents as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely. Last year, the Council adopted a new Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, which aims to make the borough’s green spaces even better by improving community involvement, boosting biodiversity and getting residents – including young people – more involved in decision-making.
Cllr Patrick Codd, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said:
“Gaining two more prestigious Community Green Flag awards is fantastic news for Lewisham. This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the huge contribution that Friends and volunteers of our nature reserves make. I would like to thank every single resident and community group involved in this effort for helping to give us all healthier and greener neighbourhoods.
“Our nature reserves are a key part of Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership’s new action plan, which the Council recently endorsed as part of our work to create a greener Lewisham for residents and wildlife. As an inner-city borough, we are very proud of the many nature reserves, parks and green spaces that have brought much needed happiness to our residents during the very challenging times of the pandemic.
“The news that two more nature reserves in Lewisham have achieved the Green Flag Community Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams that make the borough’s green spaces sanctuaries that everyone can enjoy.”
Nick Lee, Treasurer of the Friends of Garthorne Road said:
“We are excited that Garthorne Road Nature Reserve has received the Green Flag Award. As volunteers who work to protect and develop it, and open it to others, we are pleased and proud to have received the recognition that the Award brings. We thank Lewisham Borough, the volunteers and committee members for the support that they give us in managing the Reserve.”
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Garthorne Road Nature Reserve and Dacres Wood worthy of a Green Flag Award. To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that these two nature reserves have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and are places that support people to live healthy lives.”
Ours Annual Bake-off and Cake sale was once again a success with very interesting entries from an edible flower cake to an Hungarian cheesecake. We had about 120 visitors and raised about £132.25 towards purchasing interpretation boards for the reserve. Which we had two entries an Adult baker and a Junior baker winners.
We are opening the reserve for families to enjoy the site wildlife. Please wear a mask at the entrance when queuing and keep 2m apart from other parties.
Due to the last task day been cancelled on 14th October because of the weather. The friends will continue to install step-building and also handrails and path edging to improve public access, some heavy lifting involved.
The friends do a range of tasks from September to March from litter-picking to meadow improvement. if interested please contact the friends for further information.
No Barbecues or dogs please.
Sorry: No on-site toilets
Workday will be canceled if raining or windy
Entrance in Beadnell Road
Please bring gloves if you have them and wear suitable clothing and footwear
Bring a drink and food if required
if require any more information please contact us;
Due to the last task day been cancelled on 23rd September due to the severe weather. The friends will continue to install step-building and also handrails and path edging to improve public access, some heavy lifting involved.
The friends do a range of tasks from September to March over from litter-picking to meadow improvement. if interested please contact the friends for further information.
No Barbecues or dogs please.
Sorry: No on-site toilets
Workday will be canceled if raining or windy
Entrance in Beadnell Road
Please bring gloves if you have them and wear suitable clothing and footwear
Bring a drink and food if required
if require any more information please contact us;
Saturday 3rd November
Garthorne Road Nature Reserve 