SITE DETAILS

Summary

The area was once part of the Great North Wood. Knights Hill Wood Nature Reserve is named after the Knight family who were landowners in the C16th, and this was a small wood near Crown Point towards the top of the hill. It was formerly the grounds of Portobello House whose driveway between the road and the house divided either side of what is now the area of woodland. The house was demolished and Cedar House flats were built here in 1949, the area within the driveway becoming wild. In 1986 a proposal to build a doctor's surgery here was successfully opposed by local residents supported by the London Wildlife Trust to whom it was subsequently licensed to manage as a nature reserve. It has a number of fine ornamental trees dating from the C19th garden such as a Weymouth pine, deodar, oak, ash, sycamore, lime, horse-chestnut, and holly with elm in the understorey. Native trees and a boundary fence have been planted and a circular path laid out.

Basic Details

Previous / Other name:

Portobello House

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Site location:

Knights Hill

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Postcode:

SE27 ( Google Map)

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Type of site:

Public Open Land

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Date(s):

C19th; 1989

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Designer(s):

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Listed structures:

None

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Borough:

Lambeth

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Site ownership:

LB Lambeth Environment Directorate

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Site management:

London Wildlife Trust

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Open to public?

Yes

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Opening times:

appears to be unrestricted although sign indicates it is open by arrangement with LWT

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Special conditions:

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Facilities:

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Events:

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Public transport:

Rail: West Norwood then bus. Bus: 468

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The information shown above was correct at the time of the last update 01/03/2002
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.lambeth.gov.uk

Further Information

Grid ref:

TQ318712

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Size in hectares:

0.25

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Green Flag:

No

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On EH National Register :

No

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EH grade:

None

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Site on EH Heritage at Risk list:

No

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Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

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Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

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Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

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In Conservation Area:

No

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Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

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Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Local Importance

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Green Belt:

No

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Metropolitan Open Land:

No

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Special Policy Area:

No

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Other LA designation:

None

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