At first, Morden Recreation Ground looks like a fairly typical suburban recreation ground. Its main feature is an attractive line of oak trees along the central path through the park, as well as more scattered oaks elsewhere.Tucked away on the eastern corner of the recreation ground, however, just north of the car park is a spinney that provides the real focus for wildlife. The spinney contains surviving foundations of The Lodge Farm, and is the site of a small estate called Spittell or Spital, which originally belonged to Merton Priory. Of medieval origin, it is a sensitive archaeological site.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Morden Recreation Ground Spinney
Borough: Merton
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.78 ha
Description
Wildlife
The spinney consists mainly of elm scrub but there is a scattering of more mature trees, such as sycamore, holm oak, ash, hawthorn and elder. Underneath there is much cow parsley and bramble, as well as stinging nettle, and black horehound. Ivy is everywhere, on the ground and climbing the trees. A more surprising find here is butcher's-broom, otherwise known as knee holly due to its low stature and dark spiky leaves. This plant is usually associated with ancient woodland but is most likely planted here.Facilities
No information available
Oak leaves in spring © Mike Waite
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