Nature-ist: Kirkwood Nature Garden

SallyB2
By SallyB2 Last edited 177 months ago
Nature-ist: Kirkwood Nature Garden
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Really not quite of this world...
Really not quite of this world...
Holding nature in or keeping nurture out?
Holding nature in or keeping nurture out?
And when does this court convene?
And when does this court convene?
Believe us, you wouldn't want to get trapped in there after hours.
Believe us, you wouldn't want to get trapped in there after hours.

Londonist takes a walk on the wilder side...

What? The Kirkwood Nature Garden, a disused road/railway embankment which has been given back to nature. There's a path, sure, and a few benches/bins - but really it's a wilderness.

Where? Kirkwood Road, that was. Near Queens Road Station in Peckham/New Cross, sandwiched between, well, one of the area's less attractive housing estates and the railway. Thank gawd for Google Street View, as this place has practically no internet presence, doesn't really appear on any other maps, and is invisible from satellite piccies - we were starting to think that our tip off was a wind up. This really is a very well kept local secret.

Why? Because we believe in fairies. There is something very other-worldly about the place: when the gates are locked at sun-down, Kirkwood Road belongs to the little people, of that we have no doubts. And because we love the way its wildness contrasts with the stark urban structures either side. And because we have an over-active imagination. What's with that semi-circle of seats for example? Stephen King would love the place.

Nature Notes: Well, nothing on the endangered list. Trees, shrubs, birds, and lots of things rustling in the bushes. But one is left in no doubt that one is trespassing: this land truly feels like it belongs to someone else. And we're not talking about Railtrack or Southwark Council.

Map after the jump.


View Kirkwood Nature Garden in a larger map

Last Updated 04 June 2009