Pond dipping at Camley Street Natural Park
Camley Street aerial credit Mathew Frith
Snake's head fritillary at Camley Street credit Joe Richomme
Camley Street Natural Park
Location
Know before you go
Grazing animals
NoAccess
The area around the new visitor centre and main path down to the pond dipping platform will have accessible surfaces, whilst other footpaths around the site are surfaced in woodchip. The visitor centre will be fully accessible, including an accessible toilet. Two changing places toilets are located at: Camden Leisure, 5 St Pancras Square and King's Cross Station.
Steep steps with handrails at the southern end of the site lead to the viewpoint on the canal.
No visitor parking available but drop-offs can be made by arrangement. Camley Street has double yellow lines on both sides.
Dogs
Facilities
When to visit
Opening times
Currently closed to the public while a new visitor and learning centre is being constructed.Best time to visit
April to AugustAbout the reserve
Construction of the new Visitor and Learning Centre is well on the way. Alongside the Centre, much-needed habitat enhancement works are taking place, including desilting the ponds, enhancing the wildflower meadow and improving the wetland and reedbed areas.
100m of multi-functional floating reedbeds have been placed in the water’s edge along this area of the Regent’s Canal. They incorporate habitats for birds to nest, invertebrates to live, fish to spawn and shelter from predators. The reedbeds will also provide a range of ecosystem functions, including the absorption of excess nutrients from the water, mitigating canal pollution.
Camley Street Natural Park is a unique urban nature reserve, surrounded by significant new development in a bustling part of central London - between King's Cross and St Pancras. The woodland, grassland and wetland habitats including ponds, reedbed and marshy areas, provide a rich habitat for birds, butterflies, amphibians and plant life, while the new Visitor Centre will cater for the thousands who visit annually.
Support Camley Street with a dedicated Wildlife Plaque
We are creating a wildlife supporters’ wall on the outside of the new Visitor Centre. A plaque is the perfect way to celebrate a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, or to remember a loved one, whilst also supporting the future of Camley Street.
Species
Contact us
Environmental designation
Volunteer with Camley Street's team
Despite the site closure, practical conservation still continues to be carried out by staff. The team runs volunteering days on Thursdays and induction sessions once a month. Contact Karolina Leszczynska-Gogol for more information: klgogol@wildlondon.org.uk
History of Camley Street Natural Park
The site was once a coal drop for the railways into nearby King’s Cross Railway Station, which was demolished in the 1960s. It had been colonised by nature so the Trust ran a campaign to save the site from development and instead create a nature reserve; Camley Street Natural Park opening in 1985.
Management of Camley Street Natural Park
As visitor numbers increase care is taken to protect the reserve’s wild spaces and ensure nature is allowed to thrive through careful management of paths and habitats from trampling and disturbance.
News and events from Camley Street Natural Park
An update from Camley Street
As work continues at Camley Street Natural Park, we share an update from the reserve: building work and wildlife!
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