About

Beckenham Place Park has been around in its current shape for hundreds of years.

John Cator, a timber merchant, bought the estate and built the mansion in 1762. The park was managed by the Greater London Authority from 1965, then by Lewisham Council from 1972. During this period the park was used as a public golf course. In 2016 Lewisham was awarded a £5 million grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration of the Homestead buildings which had burnt down in 2011 and the renovation of the pleasure gardens and formal gardens.

The Mayor of London funded the restoration of the lake, a central feature in Edwardian times, which has been brought back into use.

The park relaunched in July 2019 with a community event attended by about 7,000 people.  

In 2019 the Friends of Beckenham Place Park raised funds to restore Stumps Hill Pond (near the Mansion).

The Friends of Beckenham Place Park have been the custodians of the history of this special park and you can find a detailed historic account, compiled by local historian Malvin Mitchell, on their website.

Rich biodiversity  

Beckenham Place Park is rich in wildlife because it contains a range of different habitats: mature woodland and areas of younger trees; wet woodland (the only such habitat in the borough, and rare in London); hay and wildflower meadows; improved grassland (in areas of open parkland); two ponds; a lake; the River Ravensbourne; formal gardens full of flowers favoured by pollinators; and buildings (that provide roosts for bats).

A large proportion of the woodland is classified as ancient woodland, meaning the area has been wooded since at least 1600, and a section of it used to be an Ash plantation.

With so many different habitats, many different species of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) are able to thrive in the park. The list of wildlife seen in the park includes over 50 species of birds; bats; numerous insects including stag beetles and dragonflies; badgers; grey squirrels; a variety of fungi; wood mice. The park is listed as a Local Nature Reserve as well as a Site of Metropolitan Importance.

The lake which was reconstructed in 2019 has created new food chains and attracted new species. In 2020, a pair of Hobbies (migratory birds of prey) nested in the park. They feed on dragonflies and swifts, which in turn feed on insects as they fly over the lake. The lake also provides a rich feeding ground for bats.

Want to learn more? Download a handout about nature in the park here or visit the Friends of Beckenham Place Park website for more about the rich biodiversity and history of Beckenham Place Park.

Walking routes 

There are four marked walking routes in the park, of varying length and each incorporating different areas of the park. 

Parkland Stroll 

Takes in most of the western side of the park and sticks to more accessible paths (except one stretch in the woodland which could be bypassed). 

Waterside Walk

Takes visitors round the lake and crosses the railway to the River Ravensbourne, as well as through areas of woodland. The paths on this route are wide and generally firm. 

Woodland Wander

A shorter route which includes some narrow, uneven paths, so some parts are not suitable for buggies and wheelchairs, particularly during wetter months. 

The Cycling Circuit 

Suitable for bicycles, but we ask riders to remember that the paths are shared with pedestrians, so please ride with care and consideration. These routes are all shown here. 

Park Run 

In addition, there is a 5km running circuit, which is also used as the Parkrun 

Beckenham Place Park is part of South East London’s Capital Ring and Green Chain walk which pass through Beckenham Place Park and are signed on posts in the park. 

Download our guided trails to explore the park and find out more about the features.

Eastern side development

After the largely acclaimed transformation of the western side of the park, Lewisham is now developing design proposals for improvements to the Eastern side.

Click below to read all project-related updates.

Community

The Beckenham Place Park team works in partnership with schools, local businesses, community groups and local area forums. We are always happy to hear from local groups that would like to discuss how they might be able to make more use of the park.

Email us on beckenhamplacepark@lewisham.gov.uk