Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads
Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads is a 5.8 hectare local nature reserve adjacent to Wimbledon Common in the London Borough of Merton.[1] It is owned and managed by Merton Council.
History
In the
The 'ponds' themselves are curious, for, while they may have been connected to the medieval watermill nearby, they only appear on maps from the early nineteenth century onwards.[6] That said, since the area was described as 'waste' (common land) in the Wimbledon Manorial Rolls of 1763, it is possible that they were never viewed as worthy of recording.[7]
In the 1950s it was acquired by Wimbledon Council for public recreation and the medieval ponds drained.[8] In the 1970s, after Wimbledon Council was subsumed by Merton Council, it was laid out to become a pitch and putt course, which introduced foreign soil and severely damaged the once pervasive acid grassland, before being abandoned in 1981.[9]
In the 1980s it was partly restored, with the northern pond desilted in 1989 and its breaches repaired in 1992, such that it retains water throughout most of the year.[10] In 1993, the area became a local nature reserve.[11] It was for some years managed by London Wildlife Trust.[12][13]
Nature
Fishpond Wood
Fishpond Wood lies adjacent to Warren Farm, and its wetlands are surrounded by old oak-hazel woodland.
A broader variety of fauna live within the wood, including
Beverley Meads
Beverley Meads was used as grazing land before the
There is access to the site by footpaths from Wimbledon Common, from Barham Road via the rugby club, and from Robin Hood Way opposite Coombe Hill Road.
References
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Beverley Meads and Fishpond Wood". London Parks and Gardens Trust. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ "Map of Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Nature reserves". London Borough of Merton. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Beverley Meads and Fishponds Wood". London Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2014.