Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Wood is a 1.7 hectare Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I, in Motspur Park in the London Borough of Merton. It adjoins Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields, and both are owned and managed by Merton Council. [1] [2] [3]
The area was part of an estate which belonged to Merton Priory at the time of the Reformation. In around 1600 it was bought by the Garth family, who were Lords of the Manor of Merton. In the middle of the nineteenth century Richard Garth planted the area which is now the nature reserve with oak trees, probably as a hunting covert. In 1931 Merton and Morden Urban District Council purchased part of the estate, which became the playing fields and wood. It is named after Sir Joseph Hood, a former MP and Mayor of Wimbledon. [4] [5]
The wood is bordered by the Beverley Brook, which forms the boundary with the London Borough of Kingston. The site has a wide range of birds, such as nuthatches and treecreepers, and trees, including mature oaks which date to the nineteenth century planting. The diverse shrub layer has species such as Midland hawthorn and ransoms which probably date to an ancient hedgerow predating the wood. [1] [3]
Access is from the playing fields off Marina Avenue. [1]
Morden is a district and town in south London, England, within the London Borough of Merton, in the ceremonial county of Greater London. It adjoins Merton Park and Wimbledon to the north, Mitcham to the east, Sutton to the south and Worcester Park to the west, and is around 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of Charing Cross. Prior to the creation of Greater London in 1965, for local government purposes, Morden was in the administrative and historic county of Surrey.
Motspur Park, also known locally as West Barnes, is a residential suburb in south-west London, in the New Malden district. It straddles the boroughs of Kingston upon Thames and Merton.
The London Borough of Croydon has over 120 parks and open spaces within its boundaries, ranging from the 200 acre (80ha) Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve to many recreation grounds and sports fields scattered throughout the Borough. Croydon covers an area of 86.52 km², the 256th largest district in England. Croydon's physical features consist of many hills and rivers that are spread out across the borough and into the North Downs, Surrey and the rest of South London. Some of the open spaces in Croydon form part of the well-known London LOOP walks where the first section was opened on 3 May 1996 with a ceremony on Farthing Downs in Coulsdon. As a borough in Outer London it also contains some open countryside in the form of country parks. Croydon Council is associated with several other boroughs who are taking part in the Downlands Countryside Management Project. These boroughs are Sutton; and by Surrey County Council; the City of London Corporation; the Surrey districts of Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge; and the Countryside Agency. An additional partner is Natural Britain.
The London Borough of Merton is an outer London borough in the south west of the conurbation. Merton's parks and open spaces range in size from Mitcham Common and a major part of Wimbledon Common to the smaller gardens, sports grounds and recreation grounds within its boundaries.
Cannon Hill Common is a public park in the London Borough of Merton. It is situated near Raynes Park and Morden. It is also the location of a Local Nature Reserve and the Paddock Allotments.
Sir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician.
Moat Mount Open Space is a 110-hectare park and nature reserve in Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. It is part of Moat Mount Open Space and Mote End Farm Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II, which includes Barnet Gate Wood and Scratchwood Countryside Park, but is separate from Scratchwood itself, which is a neighbouring park and nature reserve. Most of the site is open to the public, but Mote End Farm and some other areas are private. Scratchwood and Moat Mount are a Local Nature Reserve.
Ruislip Woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and national nature reserve covering 726 acres (294 ha) in Ruislip in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The woods became London's first national nature reserve in May 1997. Ruislip Local Nature Reserve at TQ 090 899 is part of the national nature reserve.
Oak Hill Wood is a 10-hectare Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation Grade I, in East Barnet, London. It is owned by the London Borough of Barnet, and part of it is a 5.5-hectare nature reserve managed by the London Wildlife Trust.
Big Wood and Little Wood are two patches of woodland in Hampstead Garden Suburb in the London Borough of Barnet. They are a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade 1, and a Local Nature Reserve. Big Wood is 7.3 hectares and Little Wood is 1.2 hectares.
Coombe Hill Wood is a 2-hectare (4.9-acre) local nature reserve in Coombe in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in London. It is owned and managed by Kingston Council, and was declared a local nature reserve in 1992.
Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads is a 5.8 hectare local nature reserve adjacent to Wimbledon Common in the London Borough of Merton. It is owned and managed by Merton Council.
Cranmer Green is a 3.2 hectare local nature reserve and Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation in Mitcham in the London Borough of Merton. It is owned and managed by Merton Council. It is a triangular area bounded by Cranmer Road, King George VI Avenue and a railway line.
Cherry Wood is a 1.8 hectare Local Nature Reserve and Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II, in Morden Park in the London Borough of Merton. It is owned by Merton Council and managed by the council together with the Friends of Cherry Wood.
Merton Park Green Walks is a linear walk along the line of a former railway line between Merton Park tram stop and Morden Road in Merton Park in the London Borough of Merton. It is a 1.5 hectare Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II, which is owned and managed by Merton Council.
Myrna Close is a linear walk along the line of a former railway line in Colliers Wood in the London Borough of Merton. It is a 0.75 hectare Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II, which is owned and managed by Merton Council.
Castle Hill is a 3.5-hectare (8.6-acre) scheduled monument, local nature reserve and Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade 1, in Chessington in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London. It is owned by Merton College, Oxford, and leased to Kingston Council. The site is managed by the Lower Mole Countryside Management Project.