Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

The River Ravensbourne is one of the most important features of Ladywell Fields. It was diverted in 2007 to run in a sinuous channel through the park, rejoining the main channel towards the north of the park. The new channel will become more vegetated with time. The original straight course along the eastern side of Ladywell Fields flows between wooden structures in a narrow strip of land, fenced off from the rest of the park, and has little aquatic vegetation. The Environment Agency has provided fish shelters, riffles and weirs to ensure suitable fish habitat at times when the water flow is low. Eel and stickleback are the most common fish. Kingfishers are regularly seen, and mallards and moorhens nest in the park. The fenced-off riversides contain stands of scrub, interspersed with tall herbaceous vegetation and rough grassland, and a few mature trees. Typical species include hawthorn, bramble, elder, willows and alders. These provide a food source and shelter for a variety of birds.The railway between Ladywell and Catford Bridge stations runs through the park, and the mostly narrow strip of vegetation alongside the tracks supplements the wildlife habitats of the park. There is a stand of lesser pond-sedge on the railsides in an unusually dry habitat for this species.Next to Ladywell Station is a small area of ash and sycamore woodland. This is managed as a nature reserve. The rest of the park contains a large number of fine mature trees. Pipistrelle bats are regularly seen, particularly near the river.

Facilities

Car parking; Cycle paths; toilet; Playground; Waymarked walking route.