Local Wildlife Site

Travelling southward from Brixton town centre along Brixton Hill, a near continuous linear park is seen on the left hand side, almost as far as Streatham Hill. In the 19th century, Brixton Hill was lined by small fields and houses, with many of the houses having fair-sized front gardens. The fields between St Matthew’s Church and Brixton Water Lane are now Rush Common North; the fields near Raleigh House (long since demolished) and Raleigh Hall are presently Raleigh Gardens; and from Somers Road nearly to Holmewood Road the former front gardens have been combined to form Rush Common South. Filling in the gaps, some front gardens remain to give the impression of an almost continuous belt of greenery along Brixton Hill’s eastern side. The whole was historically known as Rush Common. A path winds through Rush Common North and is well used by people on their way to and from central Brixton. There is free access at all times to Rush Common, but not to Raleigh Gardens, which is solely for residents.