Peabody Hill is a 4.5-hectare woodland separating the Peabody Hill and Rosendale Estates in Lambeth with surfaced, stepped paths through the woodland linking the two communities. The woodland is a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation (Grade I).
Photograph © Mathew Frith
Woodland Ecology
Peabody Hill wood is secondary semi-natural woodland dominated by birch with ash and oak. Contiguous woodland on the adjacent railway siding land adds to the habitat for wildlife.
Threats to the woodland
The woodland path provides the only pedestrian access to shops on Rosendale Road from the Peabody Hill estate. The wood is highly prized by local residents as ‘a piece of country in London’ and for its excellent views over London.
The wood has not been proactively managed and faces problems from fly tipping, vandalism and other antisocial behaviour, and general disrepair, including unsightly and unwelcoming access points and cracked tarmac pathways. Neither path is accessible for wheelchair users, or is easily useable for pushchair users. These barriers to access cause a strongly negative perception of the wood among many residents and contribute to fears for safety.
Capital Woodlands Programme
Woodland management at Peabody Hill wood aims to involve local people in clearing litter and improving biodiversity with the aim of enhancing community ownership and accessibility of the wood for residents from both housing estates.
Photograph © Mathew Frith
Access work includes improvement of woodland entrances, pruning or removal of invasive species including Japanese knotweed and cherry laurel, installation of well-design robust fencing and improving lighting. Woodland bulbs and plugs are planted close to the main paths and in discrete areas to enhance biodiversity and to screen neighbouring gardens.
Organised volunteer days give local people the chance to learn practical skills whilst developing a sense of ‘community’ and ‘shared ownership’ between the two estates. Outreach to local schools aims to encourage use of the woodland once it has been cleaned up.
The improvements are being narrated through the dissemination of information leaflets and newsletters to residents in both estates. This involvement is expected to sustain local links over time and is a useful way to inform both woodland users and non-users of forthcoming events.
A diverse programme of multicultural community events and activities is developed to impact on anti-social behaviour through community pressure to maintain the woodlands for local enjoyment. Special outreach to younger people helps them gain a better understanding and appreciation of the wood, as this group generates a large proportion of the fears among residents.
Photograph © Trees for Cities
Capital Woodlands aims to establish a Friends of Peabody Hill Woodland, supported by Peabody, to oversee the future management and engage with residents.
Community Involvement
The estates operate an active Tenants Association, where issues regarding the woodland are raised.
