Smaller parks and gardens
Brenchley Gardens
Brenchley Gardens, SE23.
This small park has lovely ornamental beds and rose gardens with stunning views of the centre of London.
Bird in Bush Park
Bird in Bush Road, SE15.
Bird in Bush Park features a fruit orchard and sensory garden with decorative signage produced by local young people. This small park also provides a BMX track with organised sessions and a playground for older children.
Brimmington Park
Culmore Road, SE15.
Just off the Old Kent Road, Brimmington Park provides a relaxing space, multi use sports facility and a new children's playground completed in 2008. Events are held by local residents.
The Friends of Brimmington Park work with Southwark Council to help secure and promote the conservation and protection of the park for the benefit of wildlife and the community. If you want to get involved and make a difference, contact John Laurie at editor@brimmington-green.co.uk.
Brunswick Park
St Giles Road, SE22.
This small neighbourhood park is popular with locals providing opportunities for sport and relaxation. Facilities include free tennis courts and a children's play area.
Camberwell Green
Camberwell Road, SE5.
Camberwell Green lies at a busy crossroads in the centre of Camberwell. A small area of common land, it was once a traditional village green on which, for several centuries, an annual fair was held. Today, Camberwell Green is home to a number of annual events such as Bonkersfest: a free annual one-day festival, illuminating and celebrating madness, creativity, individuality and eccentricity; combating stigma; and promoting good mental health through arts and music.
Goose Green
East Dulwich, SE15.
Once common land, the site was preserved as public open space by the Camberwell Vestry. The Green is well used as a venue for local community events.
Guy Street Park
Guy Street, SE1.
Guy Street Park, a small urban park near London Bridge, was refurbished in April 2003. Improvements include a playground for older children, a multi use play area, a picnic area and a community garden.
Honor Oak Sports Ground
Honor Oak Park, SE23.
Honor Oak was preserved as open space in the late 1890s. The site includes two football pitches, two tennis courts, a playground and picnic area.
King's Stairs Gardens
Jamaica Road, SE16.
King's Stairs Gardens is a riverside park connecting with Jamaica Road. King Edward III used the stairs to access his manor house on Bermondsey Wall East.
Leathermarket Gardens
Weston Street, SE1.
Leathermarket Gardens contains open walking spaces and formal gardens. The name comes from the historic leather markets and tanneries nearby.
Lucas Gardens
Peckham Road, SE5.
A small Victorian Park providing a pleasant retreat located opposite Southwark Town Hall.
Mint Street Park
Mint Street, SE1.
Situated in the space occupied previously by the Evelina Children's Hospital (1869 - 1976), Mint Street Park was developed as a local play space and venue for community events. The park includes an adventure play facility.
Nursery Row Park
East Street, Orb Street and Brandon Street, SE17.
This park is located in Walworth, nestled between Brandon street, Stead street, Orb street and the East Street Market. It is approximately 1.76 hectares of public green space and includes 2 playground areas, a wildlife meadow and a community orchard. It is central to the community and forms part of the lungs of the area.
For more information please visit the Nursery Row Friends Group website at http://www.nurseryrowpark.org.uk/
One Tree Hill
Brenchley Gardens, SE23.
The name originates from the oak of Honor Hill and it is said that Elizabeth I picnicked under the oak at the summit of the hill. The oak tree surrounded by railings was planted c1905 as a successor to the historic one. The site has many ancient trees and is a designated nature reserve. Rail: Honor Oak Park. Bus: Numbers P4 and P12.
Paterson Park
Lynton Road, SE16.
Paterson Park is built on land that was once railway sidings bombed in World War II. The first section of the park was opened in 1953. In 2007, improvements were made to create a well designed open space to meet the needs of the local community. New facilities include a children's play area, allotments and a multiuse games area.
Potters Field Park
Tooley Street, SE1.
Potters Field Park, on the south bank of the River Thames between City Hall and Tower Bridge, was reopened in April 2007 after a major refurbishment. The garden planting was designed by the internationally known plantsman Piet Ouldolf and the site is now managed by Potters Field Park Management Trust. Go to http://www.pottersfields.co.uk/ for more information.
Red Cross Garden
Red Cross Way, SE1.
The restored gardens were reopened in 2006 by Princess Anne and are managed by Bankside Open Spaces Trust. Red Cross Garden features a pond and the borders are designed to be both ornamental and to provide a habitat for wildlife. A mosaic created by local school children depicts the original creation of the garden in the 19th century.
St James Churchyard
Thurland Road, SE16.
St James Churchyard in Bermondsey is a lovely, small open space recently refurbished. You can become part of a Friends of the Churchyard group and be involved in the future development of the space.
St Mary's Newington
Newington Butts, SE17.
Once a large churchyard, St Mary's Newington has been transformed under the Elephant and Castle regeneration scheme into an extremely popular and well-used park. It consists of a thriving children's playground with many natural play features, a central grass area surrounded by large London Plane trees and a plaza area with seating and raised planters.
Sunray Gardens
Sunray Avenue, SE22.
Refurbished in 2001, this well used local park, formerly part of the gardens of Casino House still maintains many of its original landscape characteristics. A feature of the park is the large lake. Other facilities in the park include children's play area and multi use games area.
Surrey Square Park
Surrey Square, SE17
This park is located between the densely populated Kinglake and Aylesbury estates and Surrey Square. The park features children's play, wildlife area (which has featured on BBC's Breathing Space programme), natural play, community planting, wildflower meadow areas and the Peter Martin memorial garden. Friends of Surrey Park have been working closely with Southwark Council over the last four years to improve the park. More information is available at http://fossp.wordpress.com.
Tabard Gardens
Tabard Street, SE1.
Tabard Gardens is a large local park set within the Tabard Gardens residential estate. The park is much used by local people as a green connecting route. It includes large grassy areas, a wildlife area, children's play area and multi use sports pitches.
Victory Community Park
Victory Place, SE17.
Refurbished in 2007, this small park features an under 5s children's play area, a teen games zone, nature area and a stunning boardwalk. Regular planting days and events are held by the local community.
Warwick Gardens
Lyndhurst Way, SE15.
Warwick Gardens is a small park well used by the local community. The play area is a meeting point for local families and the five-a-side football pitch ideal for informal kickabouts.
