| Brookmill Park | |
|---|---|
| Ravensbourne Park | |
 Brookmill Park Lakephoto: Mike Quinn, geograph.org.uk | |
 | |
| Type | public park |
| Location | London,England |
| Coordinates | 51°28′13″N0°01′13″W / 51.470293°N 0.020305°W /51.470293; -0.020305 |
| Area | 1.92 hectares (5 acres), (3.6 hectares (9 acres) including River Ravensbourne) |
| Created | 1880 (1880) with additions in 1920s, '50s and '90s. |
| Operated by | London Borough of Lewisham |
| Open | 8am-sunset |
| Status | Open year round |
| Website | brookmillpark |
Brookmill Park, formerly known asRavensbourne Park, is a small public park and nature reserve located inDeptford and is in theLondon Borough of Lewisham. It runs parallel toBrookmill Road and theRiver Ravensbourne. It is located betweenDeptford Bridge andElverson Road on theDocklands Light Railway (DLR).
The park began life in 1880 as a small recreation ground near the Kent Waterworks' reservoir, which supplied water to homes in Deptford andGreenwich, drawing water from the Ravensbourne.[1] In the 1920s, part of the by then disused reservoir was infilled and added to the area, creating Brookmill Park.[2]
Nearby housing in Brookmill Road was destroyed duringWorld War II and cleared ground was used to enlarge the park, which re-opened in 1951 as Ravensbourne Park. In 1965, Lewisham and Deptford were amalgamated into one London borough and the park reverted to its earlier name of Brookmill.[2]
During DLR extension to Lewisham in the 1990s, the River Ravensbourne was rerouted. Most of the park to the east of the river was used for the DLR track and the Ravensbourne's new channel became the eastern boundary of the park. The park was re-landscaped byW.S. Atkins, also incorporating a site that had belonged toThames Water as a formal garden with ponds, pergolas and flowerbeds. The park reopened in 1998.[2]
The park runs parallel to the River Ravensbourne along its eastern side and Brookmill Road on the western side.[3] It covers an area of 1.92 hectares (5 acres), or 3.6 hectares (9 acres) if the River Ravensbourne is included.[2]
Part of the former reservoir remains as a small lake within the park – this had been drained but was reinstated after a local campaign.
The footpath and cycle path in the park are part of theWaterlink Way, which runs through Lewisham andBromley. They also form part ofNational Cycle Route 21, which extends from theRiver Thames at Creekside toEastbourne.[3]
The lake is surrounded by mature trees, includingLondon planes. The south of the park contains an area of native plants on disused railway embankment.[2]
With areas of marsh, water and grassland, some of which floods at high tides, the park is considered an important nature conservation area within the borough of Lewisham. Bird species sighted at the park includekingfisher,grey heron,moorhen, little egret, goldcrest and grey wagtails.[2]
Species found in the river Ravensbourne include stone loach, miller's thumb and invertebrates including gammarus, caddisfly and olives.