Centre for Wildlife Gardening

An idyllic garden within a quiet residential street, the centre has an award winning visitor centre offering practical advice to city gardeners. It’s the perfect place to both learn and relax, and our new nature trail is great for kids.

The reserve
A favourite place to visit for local families, gardeners and wildlife watchers from further afield, the Centre for Wildlife Gardening in Peckham has developed beyond all recognition over the last 20 years. Its origins are as an old council depot in the late 1980s, but it is now home to an award-winning visitors' centre demonstrating innovative environmental building techniques, which provides a base for school parties. In addition the centre has a demonstration wildlife garden with a range of inspiring mini habitats, a wild flower nursery, and some very well used community raised beds. You can pick up some plants from our stall, not to mention a pot of Peckham honey from our very own hives – delicious.

Habitats you'll see
Minibeast village, summer meadow, woodland copse, stag beetle sanctuary, wildlife pond and bog garden, flowery chalk bank

Species you might spot
Frogs and Newts; grasshoppers and stag beetles; songbirds; Foxes

What’s in my backyard?
Find out what species have been spotted on this reserve with the fantastic WIMBY tool, run by GiGL – Greenspace Information for Greater London.

Submit your Wildlife sightings to GiGl to help build a picture of London's nature.

Visit us
28 Marsden Road, London, SE15 4EE 020 7252 9186 Staffed Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday: 10:30 - 16:30 Map
Access map and further reserve information

Get involved
Search for volunteering sessions at this site

Site status
Site of Borough Importance

School visits
Fancy arranging a school trip to this site? Our experienced staff can provide your class with a hands-on outdoor learning experience directly linked with the National Curriculum. Have a look at our education pages for more information.

Free Family Learning Days
frog at CWG (c) Cathy Page

Without family support, a child's formal education is an uphill struggle. There is evidence that family learning can overcome difficulties associated with a disadvantaged background for both parents and children.

The Trust is working with Southwark Adult Learning Service as a delivery partner for Family learning. The sessions offered are often a second chance for parents, carers and grandparents, to return to learning, creating a host of fresh opportunities and to pursue learning together.

A programme of free taster sessions and short courses will be offered at Centre For Wildlife Gardening and Sydenham Hill Wood throughout the year and will be launched during the Family Learning Festival in October. See events pages for more details

Events planned are:
February - Fire, Clay and Nature
March- Frog Day (pond dipping)
June - Intro to Wildlife Friendly Gardening