Knights Hill is the long road that runs uphill from West Norwood Church to the boundary at Crown Point. Knights Hill Wood is near the top of the hill. In the 19th century, this was part of the grounds of Portobello House, the driveway from which divided to pass either side of the wood before reaching the road. After Portobello House was demolished, Cedar House flats were built on the site in 1949. The London Wildlife Trust took over management of Knights Hill Wood in 1989. The Trust opened up a circular path and added a boundary hedge, as well as planting new species to improve diversity. Management of Knights Hill Wood reverted to Lambeth Council in 2002. It is the intention to declare the wood as a Local Nature Reserve in the near future.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Knights Hill Wood Nature Reserve
Borough: Lambeth
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.23 ha
Description
Wildlife
Some very impressive trees dominate the wood, and particularly notable is a large Weymouth pine. This particular pine is native to the mid-west of North America and the fact that it does not tolerate pollution reflects well on the quality of the air here. Deodar, a member of the cedar family, is also found here; it is a native of the western Himalayas and was first introduced to Britain in 1831. Other trees include oak, ash, sycamore, common lime and horse-chestnut, and there is much holly and regenerating elm underneath. Cow parsley, herb-robert, hedge woundwort, rosebay willowherb, wood avens and wood dock are all common in the ground flora. The songs of a range of woodland and garden birds compete against the sound of the traffic; blackbirds, robins, treecreepers, nuthatches, mistle thrushes, blue tits, chaffinches and song thrushes may all be heard.Facilities
No information available
Knights Hill Wood Nature Reserve © Iain Boulton
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