Sutcliffe Park

Last updated
Sutcliffe Park
Sutcliffe Park lake 2.JPG
The lake in Sutcliffe Park
Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Greater London
TypePublic park
Location Eltham/Horn Park in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, England
Coordinates 51°27′18″N0°01′44″E / 51.455°N 0.029°E / 51.455; 0.029
Area41.26 acres (16.70 ha)
Created1937 (1937)
Operated by Royal Borough of Greenwich
StatusOpen year round
Awards Green Flag Award 2012-2013 [1]
Public transit access Buses, 122, 178, 321, 621, B16, N21,
Kidbrooke railway station [2]
Website www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/directory_record/3791/sutcliffe_park


Sutcliffe Park is a 16.7-hectare (41-acre) public park in Eltham in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in London. It is located west of Eltham town centre, east of Lee Green, north of Horn Park and south of Kidbrooke.

Contents

Park features

A large part of the park is a local nature reserve [3] [4] and a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II. [5] [6] The site attracts wildlife such as dragonflies, damselflies, herons, little egrets, kingfishers, reed warblers and snipe. [1] [3] Sutcliffe Park is roughly square in shape and approximately 400m across. The River Quaggy meanders through the park, from the southeast corner to the northwest corner. [2] The park contains an athletics track, outdoor gym, children's play park, a car park and bicycle locking facilities mostly on the south side, several small lakes on the northwest side, and a larger lake on the northeast side, all close by to the River Quaggy.

History

The site was formerly known as Harrow Meadow. It was prone to flooding, and in the 1930s, when the surrounding area was being developed for housing, Woolwich Metropolitan Borough Council culverted the River Quaggy and laid out the site as playing fields. It was opened as a park in 1937, named after a former borough engineer. The area around the park still suffered from flooding, and in the 1990s the ground level was lowered in part of the park to hold flood waters, while the river was restored to meander at ground level. The scheme also including re-landscaping of the park to emphasise biodiversity and ecological benefits, with wetland areas and a lake. The park was re-opened in 2004, [7] and the central area of the park, around the flood water collection area was declared a local nature reserve in 2006. [1] It received a Green Flag award for 2012–13. [1]

In September 2021, Sutcliffe Park hosted its first weekly parkrun. [8]

Access and public transport

Sutcliffe Park viewed from Kidbrooke Village. Sutcliffe Park.jpg
Sutcliffe Park viewed from Kidbrooke Village.

There is access from Tudway Road to the north, Eltham Road to the south, [7] Kidbrooke Park Road to the west, and Dowding Drive to the east. [2] Buses, 122, 178, 321, N21 serve the bus stops by the southern fence of the park on Eltham Road, buses 621, and B16 serve other near by bus stops. Kidbrooke railway station is the closest train station located less than a mile to the north of the park. [2] Several major A roads are within half a mile of Sutcliffe Park, the South Circular, and the A20 to the south of the park, and the A2 to the northeast. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Borough of Greenwich</span> Place in United Kingdom

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is a London borough in southeast Greater London, England. The London Borough of Greenwich was formed in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. The new borough covered the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich and part of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich to the east. The local council is Greenwich London Borough Council which meets in Woolwich Town Hall. The council's offices are also based in Woolwich, the main urban centre in the borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidbrooke</span> Human settlement in England

Kidbrooke is an area of South East London, England, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich 7+12 miles (12 km) south-east of Charing Cross and north west of Eltham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mottingham</span> Area of south-east London

Mottingham is a district of south-east London, England, which straddles the border of both the London Borough of Bromley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is located south west of Eltham, 1.5 miles. It was historically within the county of Kent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eltham</span> District of southeast London, England

Eltham is a district of southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is 8.7 miles (14.0 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross, and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. The three wards of Eltham North, South and West have a total population of 35,459. 88,000 people live in Eltham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Quaggy</span> River in Greater London, England

The River Quaggy is a river, 17 kilometres (11 mi) in length, passing through the south-east London boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham. In its lower reaches it is an urban river, in its upper reaches further from London it is more natural and known as the Kyd Brook. The river rises from two sources near Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) at Locksbottom and is a tributary of the River Ravensbourne which it flows into near Lewisham station in Lewisham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxleas Wood</span> Forest in London, England

Oxleas Wood is one of the few remaining areas of ancient deciduous forest in Eltham in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, in southeast London. Some parts date back over 8,000 years to the end of the last ice age, the Younger Dryas. It is part of a larger continuous area of woodland and parkland on the south side of Shooter's Hill: other parts are Jack Wood, Castle Wood, Oxleas Meadows, Falconwood Field, Eltham Common and Eltham Park North. Eltham Park North includes the ancient Shepherdleas Wood.

Hornchurch Country Park is a 104.5-hectare park on the former site of Hornchurch Airfield, south of Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering, east London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falconwood</span> Human settlement in England

Falconwood is an area of south east London within both the London Boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich. It is north east of Eltham and south west of Welling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parks and open spaces in the Royal Borough of Greenwich</span>

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has over fifty parks and open spaces within its boundaries. They include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Lewisham</span>

Lewisham parks and open spaces are part of the "green lung" of London and include a diverse range of sites, from small urban parks and gardens to one of the most historic natural landscapes in Greater London at Blackheath. While overall control rests with London Borough of Lewisham, management of borough-owned parks and their facilities is contracted out to Glendale Grounds Management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastbrookend Country Park</span>

Eastbrookend Country Park is an 84-hectare park and Local Nature Reserve in Dagenham in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in England. Together with the neighbouring Chase Nature Reserve it is also designated a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrier Estate</span> Housing estate in Kidbrooke, London

The Ferrier Estate was a large housing estate located in Kidbrooke, Greenwich, south London. Built as social housing between 1968 and 1972, it was demolished as part of the Kidbrooke Vision scheme between 2009 and 2012 and replaced with housing and retail space known as Kidbrooke Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinbrook</span> Human settlement in England

Chinbrook is an area of south east London, England, located 14 km (8.7 mi) southeast of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Lewisham. Chinbrook lies between Grove Park and Mottingham, approximately half a mile east of Grove Park centre and is generally considered part of Grove Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horn Park</span> Area of south east London

Horn Park is an area of south east London south west of Eltham. It is located 12.5 km (7.8 mi) southeast of Charing Cross on the southwest edge of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and borders both the London Borough of Lewisham and the London Borough of Bromley. There is a public park also named Horn Park and two schools in the area. The River Quaggy flows northward though Horn Park, and the suburb is covered by the postcode district SE12, which was previously called the Lee postal district. There is community centre located in Horn Park Estate on Sibthorpe Road, that hosts a number of activities, such as Christian, council and MP meetings, and numerous classes including dance, karate and English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chase Nature Reserve</span>

The Chase is a nature reserve in Dagenham in London. Most of it is in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, with a small part in Havering. It is owned by the boroughs, and managed by London Borough of Barking & Dagenham - Parks & Countryside Ranger Service. The boroughs have designated the sections in their respective boroughs as Local Nature Reserves. The Chase, together with the neighbouring Eastbrookend Country Park, is also designated a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beam Valley Country Park</span>

Beam Valley Country Park is a 74-hectare park in Dagenham in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Most of it is designated as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) called Beam Valley, but a narrow strip next to the River Beam south from Western Avenue is a separate LNR called Beam Valley. The park is also designated as two Sites of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade 1, one north and the other south of South Dagenham Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avery Hill</span> Human settlement in England

Avery Hill is an area of South East London mainly within Royal Borough of Greenwich, and with some parts in the London Borough of Bexley. It is located east of Eltham and north west of Sidcup. It is believed that the area is named after an aviary formerly located in the area.

Kidbrooke Village is a residential development located in the Kidbrooke area of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, in London, England. It is part of a larger regeneration project aimed at transforming the former Ferrier Estate into a new, mixed-use community. The development is a collaborative effort involving the local government, housing developers, and community stakeholders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tarn</span> UK nature reserve

The Tarn is a 9 acres (3.6 ha) site on Court Road between Mottingham and Eltham, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, southeast London, United Kingdom, consisting of a public garden, a bird sanctuary nature reserve and a lake amongst woodland. The woodland and lake, which was historically known as Starbuck's Pond, were previously the southern part of the Great Park, one of three parks belonging to the estate of Eltham Palace and used as a royal deer hunting park for several centuries up until the English Civil War. As a garden The Tarn opened in 1935, after the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich acquired the site from the adjacent Royal Blackheath Golf Course. The Tarn remains largely unchanged since the 1930s and contains several shelters, benches, a public toilets building and a circular path which crosses a wooden footbridge spanning the lake. There is also an 18th-century ice house in the garden, which is a listed structure.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sutcliffe Park". Royal Borough of Greenwich. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Nicholson Greater London Street Atlas Comprehensive Edition p 184 (2003) ISBN   0-583-33291-9 shows park, river and surrounding roads and railway
  3. 1 2 "Sutcliffe Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  4. "Map of Sutcliffe Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  5. "Sutcliffe Park". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  6. "iGiGL – helping you find London's parks and wildlife sites (map)". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2013. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Sutcliffe Park and Harrow Meadow". London Parks and Gardens Trust. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  8. Kilraine, Lottie (29 October 2021). "Greenwich Park Run is back for another year to encourage residents to stay active". London News Online. Retrieved 31 January 2022.