Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs, known locally as The Scrubs (or simply Scrubs), is an open space in Old Oak Common located in the north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London. It is the largest open space in the borough, at 67 hectares (170 acres),[1] and one of the largest areas of common in London. The eastern part, known as Little Wormwood Scrubs, is cut off by Scrubs Lane and the West London line railway. It has been an open public space since the Wormwood Scrubs Act 1879.
The southern edge of the Scrubs is the site of two locally important institutions. At the western end is
Within the area are several sports facilities, including the Linford Christie Stadium, tens of football pitches, and a pony centre. Queens Park Rangers Football Club played on Wormwood Scrubs between 1893 and 1896.
History
The area is first mentioned in 1189 as Wormhold Scrubs, the area was cleared woodland used for pasture for the cattle and pigs of the local manor. In 1801, the northern section was cut off by the building of the
In 1908, the
It was served by
The prison is located just yards from the scene of the
In 1986 local birdwatcher
Finances
The Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust, a charity set up under the Act of Parliament to manage this public space "for the exercise and recreation of the inhabitants of the metropolis", receives a substantial income stream from the lease to Hammersmith Hospital of a car park on its southern boundary. Other sources of income from the space include the rental of sports fields, advertising billboards, and two public car parks. The accounting for costs and revenues of the charity has been a matter of debate between the council, currently the charity's sole trustee, and the Friends of Wormwood Scrubs.[10]
Local nature reserve
Areas of Wormwood Scrubs are a local nature reserve. These areas include Braybrook Woods, Martin Bell's Wood and the Central Woodland Copse. Habitats include woodland (plantation), scrub and grassland. Animals include common lizards, over 100 species of bird and 20 species of butterfly. This site is currently being managed by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in collaboration with Groundwork UK.[11][12]
Conservation efforts
Conservation work being carried out in Wormwood Scrubs by Groundwork London has been a subject of controversy among users of the Scrubs. The primary goal is to connect each patch of the
Habitats for the local
Notes
- ^ a b "Wormwood Scrubs open space". LBHF. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0950942103.
- ISBN 0-7509-4152-9(p.58)
- ^ "West London Line". www.abandonedstations.org.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Harry Roberts". YouTube. 12 August 1966. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ "unavailable".
- ^ "Channel Tunnel Bill (Hansard, 6 July 1987)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 6 July 1987. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ "October 2008 Sightings at Wormwood Scrubs" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ "The Wild Side of Town". Ashleyhutchings2.tripod.com. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ ""Cabinet meeting papers that approved the 3× increase in costs"".
- ^ "Wormwood Scrubs". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ^ "Map of Wormwood Scrubs LNR". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
External links
Media related to Wormwood Scrubs Park at Wikimedia Commons
- Notes on Wormwood Scrubs Archived 10 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine