Garthorne Road Nature Reserve

This nature reserve forms part of the Forest Hill to New Cross Gate railway cutting.

This is an important site for nature conservation as it contains probably the finest example of a rail-side wildlife habitat in London.

 It contains probably the finest example of a rail-side wildlife habitat in London. It is four kilometres long and over 200 metres wide at its widest points.

Opening times

The site is open on the 3rd Saturday of the month between March – October between 2pm – 5pm. .

Description 

The site consists mainly of woodland and mature scrub, grassland which has developed on the spoil left on completion of the London to Croydon Railway in 1839. The site contains good examples of plants associated with thre flora of secondary woodland. 
 

Friends

Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve and the nature conservation tea run occasional guided walks. Volunteers also carry out regular sessions at the reserve. The site is also used by schools for educational sessions.

History

Lewisham Borough Council obtained a licence to manage the site as a nature reserve from Railtrack in 1987.