Woodland trees with a path running through

Ollie Watson

Braeburn Park

A former orchard, quarry and landfill site reclaimed by nature and now managed in partnership with the Land Trust, this once neglected area is today a thriving oasis in Crayford boasting several uncommon species of insects.

Location

Lower Station Road

Crayford

DA1 3RG

Know before you go

Size

22 hectares

Parking information

Street parking is available in Rochester Way and Lower Station Road.

Access

The main entrance is at the end of Lower Station Road, a few minutes’ walk from Crayford Station, on a public footpath. There is another entrance following the route of the old A2 road, Rochester Way, running along the south-western edge of Braeburn. There are also entrance points along the boundary with the estate in Galloway Drive, via a grassland path, connecting with Falstaff Close, where this path adjoins a track.

Much of the reserve has uneven path surfaces and camber, with steep inclines, although wheelchair access is possible from Lower Station Road via a gate. Improvement works will be taking place to provide wheelchair access to more central areas. There are steps at two locations.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

March to September

About the reserve

This is an important wildlife site in Crayford, south-east London, with wide-ranging habitats including scrub and tall herbs, relict orchard, mature woodland, sandy banks, steep cliffs, and a range of chalk acidic and mosaic of neutral grassland communities. Braeburn is a haven for invertebrates, with several unusual and scarce species.

History of Braeburn Park

Sand and gravel extraction took place at Braeburn before the 1980s. When this industry ceased, nature took over, providing an intriguingly mixed landscape. The site also had a history of landfill, market gardening, and the Old Crayford Gun Club was once based here. The Trust has managed the site in partnership with The Land Trust since 2014, following an agreement with the developer of the neighbouring estate and Bexley Council.

Management of Braeburn Park

We work closely with the local community to manage Braeburn for the benefit of nature and amenity. Footpath improvements and other access works are ongoing, and with the help of volunteers selective scrub clearance works open up south-facing banks for wildlife such as basking invertebrates, reptiles, and wildflowers. Areas designated for bird breeding and other species are also enhanced. Sand banks and cliffs are being kept open to provide habitat for burrowing wasps and bees, and maintain nationally-important geological features.

Status of Braeburn Park

Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation; Metropolitan Green Belt. The reserve also contains Wansunt Pit, a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designated for the exposure of Pleistocene Dartford Heath Gravels. The Trust maintains this by periodically removing some of the vegetation from the cliff-face frontage.

Get involved at Braeburn Park

Volunteer with Braeburn Park's team

We hold regular practical conservation volunteering sessions at Braeburn Park. To find out about our next session, call Simon 07772 821134 or email shawkins@wildlondon.org.uk