| Forster Memorial Park | |
|---|---|
._-_geograph.org.uk_-_377776.jpg) Forster Memorial Park contains a pocket of ancient woodland, grass, flower beds and playgrounds. | |
 Interactive map of Forster Memorial Park | |
| Type | public park |
| Location | London,England |
| Coordinates | 51°25′49″N0°00′17″W / 51.430408°N 0.004838°W /51.430408; -0.004838 |
| Area | 17 hectares (42 acres) |
| Created | 1922 (1922) |
| Operated by | London Borough of Lewisham |
| Open | 8am-sunset |
| Status | Open year round |
| Website | lewisham |
Forster Memorial Park, is a public park inLondon Borough of Lewisham. It takes up the land between Bellingham Road and Whitefoot Lane,Catford – the park and surrounding roads form Southend or Southend Village. The nearest stations areBellingham andBeckenham Hill.
The land where the park now stands was donated byH.W. Forster, firstMP forBromley and laterGovernor-General of Australia. The Forster family had lived at Southend Hall from the early 19th century (now demolished, but located near the junction of Bromley Road and Whitefoot Lane) and had a large estate covering what was then a rural outpost of London in the county ofKent. The land for the park was donated in memory of H.W. Forster’s two sons, Alfred and John Forster, who died inWorld War I, and was formally opened by his daughter in 1922.[1][2]
The park was expanded again in 1937, when further land to the north was bought from the Forster Estate Company.[1]
The park, which is accessed from Whitefoot Lane, extends to 17 hectares (42 acres) and is unusual for an urbanised area in that its central area of open grassland is surrounded byrelict ancient woodland. This wood includesash,hornbeam andoak trees. The woodland’s shrub layer has been found to include somewild service tree, a rare species in the UK that is almost exclusively found in ancient woods and hedgerows.[2] The area has been managed since 1999 by the borough’s environmental taskforce. Their work includes removal of invasive species, such assycamore, and restoration of a more natural landscape.[1][2]
The park includes a children’s play area,BMX track, cycle route andcycling proficiency area and a football pitch.[3]
There is an active Friends of Forster Memorial Park.[4]
