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Local Communities stand to benefit from project to reunite Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods

© Daniel Greenwood

A dynamic new project to reunite the ancient and popular woodlands of Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Wood in south London, is today announced by London Wildlife Trust.

The project will bring together the two ancient woodlands, while delivering a host of physical improvements and public benefits to this much-loved local resource and green space, which received over 300,000 visitors in 2020.

London Wildlife Trust is spearheading the project to gain a better understanding of how the woods could be conserved and improved, as well as become more welcoming and accessible to a wider range of people, while at the same time enhancing their precious wildlife habitats.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded initial funding of £108,365 to the Trust to support their development plans for the woods. The project is also supported by a partnership with The Dulwich Estate and Southwark Council.

The Trust’s plan for the woodlands has two stages: a one-year development phase starting this spring, followed by a three-year delivery phase.

During the development phase, the Trust will produce further plans for future activities within the woods, particularly involving underserved local communities, by introducing new volunteering opportunities, a learning programme for schools and families, and a community outreach programme.

Public consultation with the local community will take the form of taster events, guided tours, and listening exercises.

London Wildlife Trust is looking forward to developing plans to reunite Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Wood with our partners, the Dulwich Estate and Southwark Council. With such an increase in visitors since the pandemic, we are really happy to be developing plans for further investment in the Woods so that nature and wildlife are protected for the future, whilst also ensuring that a wider range of people can benefit from visiting the woods which have clearly been such an important resource for people during the pandemic and beyond.
Leah McNally, Director of Learning Youth & Communities
London Wildlife Trust
We are very proud to be able to support this worthy and fascinating project to connect two ancient and beautiful woodlands. It’s clear these woods represent a priceless and irreplaceable green lung for south London residents and our investment should help open them up to new communities in the local area, while sustaining the woods as a valuable natural habitat for wildlife for years to come.
Drew Bennellick, Head of Land and Nature Policy
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Chantelle GNW

© Arnhel de Serra

Access to nature is vitally important for all of our wellbeing. Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Wood are incredibly special, vital wild spaces for our local community and beyond. I was pleased to meet with the staff and volunteers from London Wildlife Trust earlier this year who are working hard to restore and sustain the woods, and ensure they remain accessible to the local community. I am delighted that this new funding will be put to use improving access to the woods and protecting and enriching its diverse wildlife in the years to come.
Helen Hayes
MP for Dulwich & West Norwood
The Dulwich Estate is delighted to be a partner in this important programme of work to protect Dulwich Woods and Sydenham Hill Woods in the coming years. This ancient woodland is home to a rich array of plant and animal life. It is also a treasure on the Dulwich Estate which we have cared for, over centuries. We must continue to look after it and are thrilled that London Wildlife Trust are leading on this new environmental project, with the backing of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Estate.
Simone Crofton, CEO
The Dulwich Estate
Dulwich Wood Family

© Arnhel de Serra

Southwark Council is delighted that LWT have successfully secured this grant. We look forward to participating in the development phase and beyond. The woods are such a valuable resource not just to Southwark but for London. They are the closest remnants of ancient woodland to the centre of London and home to many rare species.
Jon Best, Ecology Officer
Southwark Council
Huge congratulations to London Wildlife Trust, their dedicated staff and volunteers for securing the funds to help restore and improve walking routes connecting both woodlands. By working together with the council and the Dulwich Estate we can secure the future of these two great woods for generations to come. This shows the combined commitment to the preservation of our greatest natural assets in the borough and improving this key stretch of the strategic Green Chain Walk for all London.
Catherine Rose
Local Community Councillor

For further information, images and interviews please contact Daniel Greenwood at London Wildlife Trust on 07483 095986 and dgreenwood@wildlondon.org.uk

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Notes to editors

More information about Sydenham Hill and Dulwich woods:

  • London Wildlife Trust has managed Sydenham Hill Wood, in partnership with Southwark Council, since 1981, while Dulwich Wood has been made accessible to visitors by the Dulwich Estate since the 1990s. Sydenham Hill Wood is a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.
  • Since 2015, the Trust has worked with a number of partners to deliver the Heritage Fund supported ‘Great North Wood Living Landscape’ project, which included support for Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Wood. The Trust is now in a great position to build on the positive impacts of this project by delivering much needed enhancements to the largest remaining tract of this once vast ancient forest. The project will also develop plans for involving a wider range of people in natural heritage activities.

About London Wildlife Trust

London Wildlife Trust (LWT) is dedicated to protecting London's wildlife, engaging local communities through outdoor learning, volunteering and access to our nature reserves. We are a driving force for nature conservation across London. With our dedicated supporters and volunteers, we work tirelessly to protect wildlife across London. We take action every day to help wildlife flourish through practical conservation work; we engage, inspire and enable people to connect with nature; and through campaigns and consultancy, we give wildlife a voice.

In a city facing development pressure and a rising population, where people are increasingly disconnected from their natural environment, we believe we can create real change. Our vision is a city rich in biodiversity, where people treasure wildlife and where access to natural green space is a right for all. 

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

National Lottery Heritage Fund grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. Re-uniting Sydenham Hill Wood & Dulwich Wood has initially been granted round one development funding of £108,365 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £989,270.

Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund 

Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £46billion for projects and more than 670,000 grants have been awarded across the UK - the equivalent of more than 240 lottery grants in every UK postcode district. More than £30 million raised each week goes to good causes across the UK.

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