Little Wormwood Scrubs is a small park in the northeast corner of Hammersmith & Fulham borough. Up to the 1980s the site was much larger, with an area of scrubby woodland that had grown up on former railway sidings, leading up towards the Great Western Railway. Sadly much of the woodland was lost to the development of an industrial estate in the late 1980s. Today the southern part of the park is managed for recreation, with mown grass for informal football games, a restored playground, rose beds and plenty of seats. The northern half of the park offers more interest to wildlife enthusiasts. Here much of the grass has been unmanaged for some years, pending decisions on the site’s future.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Little Wormwood Scrubs Park
Borough: Hammersmith and Fulham
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 8.84 ha
Description
Wildlife
The southern part has a few mature trees, including some fine oaks. More tree planting has tended to focus on native species, including a row of crack willows towards the western edge. In the northern part tall herbs have seeded in, attracting good numbers of bees and butterflies in summer. Scrub is gradually becoming established, offering a niche for birds such as wren, robin and whitethroat. There are field voles in the long grass.Facilities
Playground
Little Wormwood Scrubs Park © Mathew Frith
Little Wormwood Scrubs Park © Mathew Frith
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