Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Friends Group

Garthorne Road Nature Reserve July Open Day

The Friends are opening the reserve on Saturday 16th July from 2 – 5pm. There will be some children activities such as hunting mini beasts as well a Tree Trail sheet as well.

Bring a picnic along if you wish.

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.
Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Friends Group

Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Spring Open Day

Saturday 19th March

2- 5 pm

No booking required

Garthorne Road Nature Reserve are having their first Open Day of the year. As spring is about here and the birds start to nest and the spring flowers emerge come and explore what is about, Bring a picnic along. There will be some children activities as well such as Spring Spotter Sheet to discover what is above also a mini beast hunt and 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 (apart from April due to Easter) and starts at 11am – 3.30pm. We meet at main entrance on Beadnell Road 11am. 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.

How to find us: Main gate is at North end of Beadnell Road

next to the alleyway to Garthorne Road.

Openmap of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve
The Wood That Built London – Grab your copy!

Released last year author Chris Schüler, launched of his new book ‘The Wood That Built London’, which just so happens to be all about the Great North Wood! which covered from Deptford to Selhurst and from Streatham to Sydenham If you missed the virtual book launch, click here to watch a replay.

Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Friends Group

Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Bake-off and Cake Sale

Saturday 18 September 2021

Help us to raise money for interpretation boards around the reserve.

There are two trophies to be won – Best Baker and Best Junior Baker. It would be helpful if you could email us in advance at garthorne.reserve@gmail.com letting us know if you plan to enter and in which category you want your cakes judged

• Entries can be either large cakes which we can slice on the day, or cupcake/muffin style cakes in individual cases or wrappers

• All cakes should be brought to the reserve between 13:30 and 14:00 on Saturday 18 September. Judging will take place at 14:00 and it will be followed immediately by a presentation ceremony at which the winners will receive their trophies

• We will be selling cakes during the rest during the open day (14:00-17:00) to raise money towards interpretation boards for the reserve

Kindly sponsored by Sebastian Roche Estate Agents

For further details:

Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Friends Group

Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Open Day

Family exploring the reserve

Saturday 17th July

2pm – 5pm

No booking required. But we still need to follow the CO-VID 19 restrictions. Please either walk or cycle if possible you can secure your bike inside the reserve limited space avaible and avoid using public transport.

The site is open on the 3rd Saturday of the month between April – October between 12noon – 4pm. A member of the Friends Group will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Other Open Days dates. (Booking is not required)


Saturday 21st August
Saturday 18th September
Saturday 16th October

Terms & Conditions

Masks will not be required when walking around the reserve, but please wear them while waiting to come in to the site. Hand gel is available at the gate for visitors to use.

Please wear suitable clothing & footwear for the weather.

Please follow the sites directorial signage and instruction from the volunteers.

Sorry no BBQ’s allowed on the site.

Sorry No Dogs or motorised scooters are not allowed on the reserve.

The open days may be cancelled at very short notice due to weather conditions or availability of volunteers.

Start times may be subject to changes times at a short notice .

The volunteers reserve the right If anyone that is abusive towards them and will be asked to leave the reserve and will be ban from entering in the future.

Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Butterflies, Events, Friends Group, Great North Wood, Insects, Open Day

Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Open Days for 2024

Help us improve Garthorne Road Nature Reserve

The Friends will be opening the Garthorne Road Nature Reserve for this year so the public can explore this ‘Quiet oasis in Forest Hill’ and important part of the Green railway corridor between New Cross Gate and Forest Hill. Why not bring along a picnic.

Our Open Days are on the 3rd Saturday of each month from March – October.

June 15th – Art in Nature

July 20th

August 17th

September 21st – Annual Bake-off

October 19th

Sorry No Dogs, BBQ’S or cycling allowed on the reserve

Please contact us:

Jess kyle Events, Friends Group, Volunteer

Garthorne Road Nature Reserve blog is here!

Help us improve this fantastic site
Help us improve this fantastic site

Hi there and welcome to our new site.  We hope that this blog will help us generate interest in this fantastic site and encourage local people to visit and take part in events and open days.  We can not do this alone, so if you are interested, please contact Lewisham’s Nature Conservation Officer, Jess Kyle who will be able to give you more information.

We really hope to establish a friends group for this site and will be writing more about this in due course.