stern ticking off for dulwich wild foodies...

[edhistory]

That's the point...

The designated area between Sydenham Hill (road) and the disused railway line is a woodland re-colonisation on the extensive gardens of the large 19th century mansions. I don't think there is anything "ancient" about it at all.

I used to play there 50+ years ago. Perhaps it was clearer to see then.

Did any one else play there who can confirm this?

In the absence of any evidence I think it is a mis-designation.

As I said before, I'll be happy to be proved wrong.

John K

[Burbage]

edhistory Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The designated area between Sydenham Hill (road)

> and the disused railway line is a woodland

> re-colonisation on the extensive gardens of the

> large 19th century mansions. I don't think there

> is anything "ancient" about it at all.

Happily, whether it's been continuous or replanted doesn't matter for the official definition.

[edhistory]

Yes, that's about it.

Someone fills in a form and back gardens become ancient woodland.

It's a kind of magic.

John K

[henryb]

If only it was that easy. I think it was a fairly big campaign in the 80s by the LWT and others to get it protected and save it from property developers. Some of it is old Victorian gardens, some of it is older woodland, all of it is protected.

[edhistory]

> some of it is older woodland

Which bit is that?

John K

[henryb]

LWT should be able to tell you.

[edhistory]

But...

It was you who said so here.

What is your source?

John K

[henryb]

LWT

[edhistory]

http://visitwoods.org.uk/en/visit-woods/Pages/wood-details.aspx?wood=26233&site=Sydenham-Hill-Wood#.UdFZeFKxvCM

[henryb]

http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/Pages/Category.aspx?IDCategory=dc00cc1e-3e7f-4663-ae9d-e27e315c11e9

"Oak and hornbeam demonstrate the ancient woodland heritage of this site"

[edhistory]

"In the 1870s large Victorian villas with extensive gardens were established on Sydenham Hill, and the wood is now a unique mix of old woodland, Victorian garden survivors and recent woodland."

So where is this "old woodland", or is it only old like me?

It's not the former railway land, nor the Victorian gardens.

Interesting mis-use of the word "demonstrate" in your quotation.

John K