Lewisham parks and open spaces are part of the "green lung" of London and include a diverse range of sites, from small urban parks and gardens to one of the most historic natural landscapes in
Greater London at
Blackheath. While overall control rests with
London Borough of Lewisham, management of borough-owned parks and their facilities is contracted out to Glendale Grounds Management.
Key sites
Nature conservation
Together with other smaller sites, such as ponds, woods, and railside areas there is a total of 1185 acres (474ha) of land defined as
Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. These include:
Blackheath – one of the largest open spaces in
Greater London, Blackheath is an historic London landscape and an important natural habitat. It is jointly managed by Lewisham and
Royal Borough of Greenwich. Blackheath is not common but manorial waste.
Grove Park Nature Reserve - a 4.6 ha (11 acres) site including woodland, shrubland and meadow, opened in 1984.
Hither Green Triangle – grassland and wooded area between railway lines that was declared a nature reserve in 1993.
Folkestone Gardens – 1970s park close to Deptford Park and created from an area of land badly damaged by a
V-2 rocket in 1945. Part of the London Cycle Network, and notable for its large pond and children's play area.
Hilly Fields - a large park located between
Brockley and
Ladywell. The park has a stone circle and expansive views across London. The weekly
Parkrun held here is one of the steepest in the country.