ancient woodlands
Change for the better?
Change for the worse?
How did the ladybird get
her spots?
Nature Reserve or Rubbish Dump?
One rule for you and one
for me
Reading a map and
following a trail
Which trees make the best
cafes?
on the Green Chain
Avery Hill Park and Winter Gardens
Eltham Park North and Shepherdleas Woods
Plumstead Common and Winns Common
The Green Chain Resource Directory was funded by Transport for London and the Sun Project (EU LIFE)
in collaboration with the Bromley Field Studies Centre and the English Nature’s Wildspace! Project.
Contents on this site require Adobe Acrobat Reader
you can download this free software here.
Elmstead Wood
Location
London Borough of Bromley
In Elmstead, bounded by Grove Park Cemetery, Castlecombe Road, Elmstead Lane and Wood Drive
Map Ref: TQ 420 715
Brief description
A large area of ancient woodland with a wide range of trees of different ages from veterans to saplings, including oak, hornbeam and sweet chestnut coppice. Ancient woodland isn’t always managed through coppicing. It forms one area of woodland with the much smaller Marvels Wood to the north in Lewisham Borough. There are lots of squirrels and fungi and many bird species. The ground flora is very varied.
Originally part of the Bishop of Rochester’s estate, centred on the bishop’s palace at Bromley (now part of the civic centre). It provided timber for ship building and became so depleted that by 1580 the bishop gave orders to stop any further felling except when timber was needed for repairs to his own palace.
Access points into the site
The Green Chain walk comes in from the west via the railway footbridge from New Street Hill, from the north west a branch of the path comes from Chinbrook Meadows; from the north, the GCW comes through Marvels Wood from Castlecombe Road, and from the east, from Elmstead Lane.
Other entrances come in from a path from the cemetery entrance at the end of Marvels Lane.
Public transport to the site
Train: nearest station is Elmstead Woods
Bus: 314
But consult Transport for London’s Journey Planner
Facilities for people
Cafe: No
Toilets: No
Shelter: No
Children’s play equipment: No
Other - e.g. pond dipping area? Info centre? good viewpoint?: No
Key wildlife features present
Short grass: No
Long grass: One small field area and some ride edges
Lowland heathland: No
Stream: No
Hedge: No
Clumps of trees: Yes
Wood: Yes
Other wildlife info attractive to schools: Cemetery and railway close by
Seasonal ponds and ditches
Key species or habitats covered by the borough’s Biodiversity
Action Plan
Species: stag beetles (PDF, 50KB); song thrush (PDF, 56KB); butterflies;
bats (PDF, 51KB); Hedgehog, Ancient Trees
Habitats: Urban, Woodland
Website: Borough Biodiversity Action Plan
Name and details of person to contact if you want to visit or
know more about the site
Elmstead Woods:
Guy Stephens, Site Manager
Address: Conservation Section, Leisure & Culture, Environment and Leisure
Services, London Borough of Bromley BR1 3UH
Telephone: 020 8313 4458
Email: guy.stephens@bromley.gov.uk
Steve Whitbread, Ecologist
Address: Conservation Section, Leisure & Culture, Environment and Leisure
Services, London Borough of Bromley BR1 3UH
Telephone: 020 8313 4448
Email: steve.whitbread@bromley.gov.uk
Other organisations involved at the site?
Local people have done litter picks in the wood. (Local councillor organised)