1.
Camley Street Natural Park
Camley Street Natural Park is an urban nature reserve in Kings Cross in central London and within the London Borough of Camden. It is a nature reserve. It is run by the London Wildlife Trust, a visitors centre caters for casual visitors and school parties, though tours must be booked. In shape the park is a strip of land bounded by the canal, Camley Street. The entrance is through a gate on Camley Street. Admission to the park is free and its opening hours and days change with the funding it is able to win. A variety of habitats co-exist in the parks small environs, including wetlands and woodland, which attract insects, birds, over 300 higher plants have been found at the site, highlights include common broomrape, hairy buttercup and common spotted orchid. Meadow herbs include white clover and poppy, woodland trees include hazel, rowan and silver birch. Hazel and willow are coppiced regularly, woodland herbs include lesser celandine and wild violet. Marshland herbs include marsh marigold, greater pond sedge, pendulous sedge, bogbean, marsh-nesting birds include reed bunting, moorhen and reed warbler.
Until the 17th century the area was in the Middlesex woodlands, in the 18th century it came under industrial use, and the Regents Canal was built along the eastern edge of the former country estate. In the 19th century the area was used for coal chutes, first for the canal, Camley Street was originally known as Cambridge Street, until renamed by the LCC. The site became derelict by the 1970s, in 1984, Camden Borough Council assigned the nascent London Wildlife Trust to manage the site. In 2008, Kings Cross Central started to plan a major development to the east and south of the park, as of March 2016, the pedestrian bridge has not been built. Visitors from far and wide come to learn from this example, Camden parks and open spaces London Wildlife Trust - Camley Street Natural Park
2.
Lesnes Abbey Woods
Lesnes Abbey Woods, sometimes known as Abbey Wood, is an area of ancient woodland in southeast London, England. It is located near to, and named after, the ruined Lesnes Abbey in the London Borough of Bexley, the woods are adjacent to Bostall Woods. The woods have several features dating back to the Bronze Age, the abbey kept fishponds which were fed by a small stream running down through the woods, and these are still visible today though the water level is often low. Local community group Lesnes Abbey Conservation Volunteers run practical conservation events to help manage the woodland and they are a registered environmental conservation charity run by local people. Lesnes Abbey Conservation Volunteers objectives include, To conserve and maintain for the public benefit Lesnes Abbey Wood, to advance public education in the principles and practices of nature conservation, and the archaeological and geological interest of Lesnes Abbey Wood and its environments. LACV is a community group which is open to all ages and abilities, the groups conservation tasks include hedge laying, fence repair, pond restoration, glade creation, tree planting and heath land restoration.
The group does various wildlife surveys in order to monitor the native wildlife. Lesnes Abbey Woods is a Local Nature Reserve and includes the Abbey Wood geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, members of the public can dig for fossils in a small area called the Fossil Bank with the permission of the Lesnes Abbey ranger
3.
Coppett's Wood and Scrublands
Coppetts Wood and Scrublands is a 14.5 hectare Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I, between Muswell Hill and Friern Barnet in the London Borough of Barnet. It is part of the Coppetts Wood and Glebelands Local Nature Reserve, the main trees are oak and hornbeam, and ground flora include bluebell and garlic mustard. Breeding birds include woodpeckers, tawny owls and sparrowhawks, a small pond has a clump of yellow iris, and common frogs and smooth newts. Scrublands has a variety of habitats and some plants such as imperforate St Johns-wort. There are several species of insects. Coppetts Wood was once part of a forest known as Finchley Wood and it had a reputation as a haunt of highwaymen. In the nineteenth century a sewage works was built on the site and it was closed in 1963, but still has its legacy in the rich variety of plants in the Scrublands. In the Second World War it was used for military training, access to the site is from Colney Hatch Lane and North Circular Road.
The Coppetts Wood Conservationists meet on Sunday mornings throughout the year with the aim of maintaining the nature reserve, increasing its biodiversity, Coppetts is a ward of the London Borough of Barnet. At 2011 Census the ward population was 17,250, Coppetts Wood on the Woodland Trust website Coppetts Wood Conservationists Hewlett, Janet
4.
Jubilee Country Park
Jubilee Country Park is a 62-acre public park in Petts Wood in the London Borough of Bromley. It is a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and it was purchased by Bromley Council to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, and opened as a park in 1981. The park is part of a wildlife corridor together with Petts Wood. The London Loop goes through it, the park consists of extensive areas of grassland and ancient woodland. The grassland has a population of the rare corkyfruit water dropwort. There is access from Southborough Lane, Blackbrook Lane and Tent Peg Lane, friends of Jubilee Park Jubilee Country Park Local Nature Reserve, London Borough of Bromley
5.
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley /ˈbrɒmli/ is one of the 32 London boroughs which make up Greater London. The London Borough of Bromley is south of the River Thames which flows through London, the borough is named after Bromley, its principal town. The local authority is Bromley London Borough Council, the borough is the largest in Greater London by area and occupies 59 square miles, of which the majority is Metropolitan Green Belt land. It is perhaps the most rural, most of the population lives in the north and west of the borough, with an outlier at Biggin Hill in the far south. The borough shares borders with the London Boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich to the North, Bexley to the North East and Lambeth to the North West, as well as Croydon to the West. It borders the Sevenoaks District of Kent to the East and South, westerham Heights, the highest point in London at an altitude of 804 feet, is located on the southern boundary. The Prime Meridian passes through Bromley, about 30% of the land in Bromley is farmland, the highest figure of a London Borough.
The borough was formed, as were all other London boroughs, in 1969, after a local campaign, the village of Knockholt was transferred back to Kent to become part of the Sevenoaks Rural District and Sevenoaks District. Before 1965 it had part of the Orpington Urban District. The borough is partly urban and partly rural, the former to the north, other smaller suburban areas include Anerley and nearby Crystal Palace, and Penge. In addition, parts of Mottingham, Sydenham and Ruxley lie within the borough boundaries, there are two main built-up areas in the southern part of the borough and West Wickham. Biggin Hill and Keston with Leaves Green and Nash are separate, local attractions include Down House, Chislehurst Caves, Holwood House, Crofton Roman Villa, and the site of The Crystal Palace. Bromley is divided into 22 wards with a total of 60 council seats, after a number of by-elections and a defection, the Conservatives regained control on 5 July 2001. The 22 wards are shown on the accompanying map, ward names often straddle the named settlements and suburban areas above, their boundaries are fixed, whereas the latter are not.
In 1801, the parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 8,944. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district built up. When the railways arrived the rate of growth increased. The population peaked in the 1970s, when began to relocate from London
6.
London Borough of Brent
The London Borough of Brent is a London borough in north west London, and forms part of Outer London. The major areas are Kilburn and Harlesden, most of the eastern border is formed by the Roman road Watling Street, which is now the modern A5. Brent has a mixture of residential and commercial land, Brent is home to Wembley Stadium, one of the countrys biggest landmarks, as well as Wembley Arena. The local authority is Brent London Borough Council, the borough has seen illegal dumping on the borough’s streets between 2013/14 and 2014/15 surge by 84 per cent, the most recorded by a local authority in England. Brent has the highest proportion of housing benefit claims by private tenants in the country as a percentage of all according to the Financial Times. Brent was formed in 1965 from the area of the former Municipal Borough of Wembley and its name derives from the River Brent which runs through the borough. Brent is divided into 21 Electoral Wards, some wards share a name with the traditional areas above, others include Barnhill, Dudden Hill, Fryent and Welsh Harp.
The Brent borough includes three parliamentary constituencies, Brent North, Brent Central, and Hampstead and Kilburn, which part of the London Borough of Camden. Before the 2010 United Kingdom general election it was divided into three constituencies contained wholly within the borough - Brent South, Brent East and Brent North, Brent London Borough Council is elected every four years, with currently 63 councillors being elected at each election. Labour regained control in 2010 and increased their majority at the 2014 election, as of the 2014 election the council is composed of the following councillors, - The leader of the Council is Labour Councillor Muhammed Butt. In 1801, the parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 2,022. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district built up. When the railways arrived the rate of growth increased. The population peaked in the 1960s, when began to relocate from London. Brent is among the most diverse localities in the country, with large Asian and Indian, Black African, Black Caribbean and Eastern European minority communities.
In the 2001 Census, the borough had a population of 263,464 – of whom 127,806 were male, and 135,658 female. Of those stating a choice,47. 71% described themselves as Christian,17. 71% as Hindu,12. 26% as Muslim and 10% as having no religion. Of the population,39. 96% were in employment and 7. 86% in part-time employment – compared to a London average of 42. 64% and 8. 62%
7.
Brent Reservoir
The Brent Reservoir is a reservoir between Hendon and Wembley Park in London. It straddles the boundary between the boroughs of Brent and Barnet and is owned by the Canal & River Trust, the reservoir takes its informal name from a public house called The Welsh Harp, which stood nearby until the early 1970s. It is a 68.6 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, the reservoir is fed by the Silk Stream and the River Brent, and its outflow is the River Brent. It is said to contain water to fill 3 million baths. The reservoir has a centre, home to Welsh Harp Sailing Club, Wembley Sailing Club, the Sea Cadets. In 1960, it hosted the Womens European Rowing Championships. Plans for the construction laid in 1803 were abandoned because of cost, however canals continued to develop in the early 19th century and there were water supply problems. The reservoir was constructed by William Hoof between 1834 and 1835, the water flooded much of Cockman’s Farm, to supply the Regents Canal at Paddington.
It was called Kingsbury Reservoir and its 69 acres spread between Old Kingsbury Church and Edgware Road, who was awarded the tender for the work received the sum of £2,740 and six shillings. Construction did not proceed without problems, in August 1835, a few months before completion, additional building was completed in December 1837 to extend the reservoir. In 1841 after seven days of rain the dam head collapsed. It was after this that a supervisor was employed for the first time, at its greatest extent it covered 400 acres in 1853, but was reduced to 195 acres in the 1890s, and subsequently reduced to 110 acres. During the second half of the 19th century the area became a destination for recreation and evening entertainment, who in 1858 became licensee of the Old Welsh Harp Tavern. The tavern stood on the Edgware Road, near where it crossed the Brent, who fought with distinction in the Crimean War, created the tavern along the lines of the London Pleasure gardens. For 40 years, Warner made the Old Welsh Harp Tavern one of Londons most popular places, the amusements were focused not just on the inn, but around the reservoir.
Warner operated a track until an Act of Parliament made it illegal. The first greyhound races with mechanical hares took place here in 1876, in 1891, there was an attempt by Capazza to launch his Patent Parachute Balloon, which failed to leave the ground. Accounts record nasty incidents among the 5000 spectators and these activities attracted a mixed clientele and crime and violence were not uncommon
8.
Danson Park
Danson Park is a public park in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London, located between Welling and Bexleyheath. At 75 hectares, it is the second largest public park in the borough, and it is often considered the finest green open space in the borough, and is registered Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England. The park gives its name to the ward that covers the park. The park is located at grid reference TQ472752, the southern boundary of both the park and the ward is delineated by Rochester Way, the A2 road. In the 1760s, Boyd built Danson House, a Grade I-listed Georgian mansion that stands in the centre of the park, the landscape was designed and laid out between 1761 and 1763, by either Capability Brown or his assistant Nathaniel Richmond. By the time of Boyds death the Danson Estates comprised over 600 acres of pleasure grounds, the other key previous occupant of the estates was Alfred Bean, a railway engineer who bought the property in 1862.
Bean was the force behind the Bexleyheath Railway Company, and chairman of Bexley Local Board. Outlying areas were sold off for residential development according to Beans will, on the death of his widow in 1921, when it was auctioned, and eventually acquired by Bexley Urban District Council for £16,000 in 1924. The council spent another £3,500 converting the estate into a public park, the park was opened to the public in 1925 by Princess Mary, Land was reserved for football pitches, tennis courts and a bowling green, which have been added over time. In 1929 the Morris Wheeler Gates were erected at the north-east corner of the park, donated by Alfred Morris Wheeler, an open-air swimming pool opened in 1936, and in 1964 the Boathouse and Cafe opened to the public. The park grounds were restored, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, in 2006, the park is now used extensively by the community. The one hectare Danson Park Bog Garden is a Local Nature Reserve, on 30 September 1937, Lord Cornwallis presented the charter re-designating Bexley from an Urban District Council to a municipal borough under the large oak tree in the centre of Danson Park.
The oak tree, which is over 200 years old, has since known as Charter Oak. It is a feature of the park, and is featured on the London Borough of Bexley coat of arms. The tree is now enclosed to protect its root system, the park regularly hosts circuses, fun-fairs, firework displays, and various other large public events. A free 5k run, part of the international parkrun events and sailing are possible on the lake, used by various water-sports clubs and societies. The park contains the Danson Stables, a house in a building previously used as the stable block for Danson House, and The Boathouse. Until 2013 the park played host to the Danson Festival, an annual large-scale two-day event run by Bexley Council, the festival included many stalls such as arts, crafts and others, as well as a fun fair with various rides
9.
Covert Way
Covert Way is the only Local Nature Reserve in the London Borough of Enfield. It is part of the Hadley Wood Golf Course and Covert Way Field Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I and it is on the southern border of Enfield between the road named Covert Way and Monken Hadley Common in Barnet. Part of the site is woodland which has woodpeckers and muntjac deer. In grassland areas there are the rare adders-tongue fern and the locally scarce four-spot orb weaver spider, Covert Way, a London Borough of Enfield wood. IGiGL the data portal of Greenspace Information for London
10.
Fryent Country Park
Fryent Country Park together with Barn Hill Open Space is a large park situated in the north of the London Borough of Brent. It covers 103 hectares of rolling fields and small woods, Fryent is a ward of the London Borough of Brent. Its population at the 2011 Census was 13,445, Barn Hill in the south-west of the park is a wooded hill that rises to 86m. A fish pond is found at the top of the Hill, numerous other ponds can be seen in the rest of the park. Gotfords Hill and Beane Hill are other points in the park. Parallel to Fryent Way is an ancient track known as Hell Lane or Eldestrete which may date back to Saxon times or earlier, the woodland comprises French oak, elm and some fruit trees which occur in the hedges along with blackthorn. The park is considered the best surviving example of Middlesex countryside in the Brent basin and has a population of the rare plant the narrow-leaved bitter-cress. Barn Hill called Bardonhill in 1547 was landscaped by Humphry Repton in 1792 as part of a local country park.
The Fryent Park hay meadows are small remnants of two manors one originally in the ownership of King Edward the Confessor, the park is bisected by the A4140 Fryent Way that links Kingsbury with Wembley. A car park is available halfway down this road, the nearest underground is at Kingsbury Station on the Jubilee line. The 206 bus terminates a short distance from the park, the Capital Ring footpath crosses the site. However, the road Fryent Way, linking Kingsbury Circle and Salmon Street lacks a much needed bus service to residents and students alike around the area. The Barn Hill Open Area, or at least the summit of it, is nearer Wembley Park Station, Fryent Country Park was awarded a Green Flag Award in 2010/2011 for being a well-managed park or open space. The Green Flag Award scheme is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England. It is a Local Nature Reserve, in 2014 London in Bloom awarded the park a silver gilt award in its Country Park of the Year category. The Liddiard Cup cross country race is staged here in late October.
No.173 Explorer Map, London North, Wembley and Kingsbury, A pictorial history. Brent Councils local management plan Barn Hill Conservation Group’s website Barn Hill Conservation Group’s 2007 management programme
11.
London General Omnibus Company
The London General Omnibus Company or LGOC, was the principal bus operator in London between 1855 and 1933. It was also, for a period between 1909 and 1912, a motor bus manufacturer. The London General Omnibus Company was founded in 1855 to amalgamate and regulate the many independent horse-drawn omnibus services operating in London, originally an Anglo-French enterprise, known as the Compagnie Generale des Omnibus de Londres, the LGOC soon became the largest omnibus operator in London. It bought out hundreds of independently owned buses and established a consistent level of service for its fleet, within a year, the LGOC controlled 600 of Londons 810 omnibuses. Under its chairman Sir John Pound, in 1902 it looked at an option to purchase a competitor, the Star Omnibus Company, LGOC began using motor omnibuses in 1902, and the last LGOC horse-drawn bus ran on 25 October 1911. In 1908 the LGOC bought the Road Car Company, the Vanguard Company, the merger of these three companies gave the new and enlarged LGOC the most experienced operating and engineering personnel of any operator - and perhaps manufacturer - in the country at the time.
In 1912, the Underground Group, which owned most of the London Underground, in 1933, the LGOC, along with the rest of the Underground Group, became part of the new London Passenger Transport Board. The name London General fell into disuse, and London Transport instead became synonymous with the red London bus, LGOC began producing motor omnibuses for its own use in 1909 at works established in premises inherited from Vanguard at Blackhorse Lane, London. The first model built was the LGOC X-type, which was designed by Frank Searle, the X-type was followed by the LGOC B-type, from the same designer. After the Underground Groups acquisition of the LGOC in 1912, the bus manufacturing elements of the LGOC were split out to create the Associated Equipment Company, the new London General was initially privatised by management buy-out, and acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in 1996. The London General Omnibus Company was featured in the ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, played by actor Kenneth Branagh, was depicted arriving in a green horse-drawn London General Omnibus Company Limited bus at the start of the ceremony
