Description
Kidbrooke Green Park is a remnant of the old village green, and the adjoining Nature Reserve is the last remaining marsh area of Kidbrooke. The area was largely farmed until the C19th, and in 1938 the farmland and remnant of the village green were sold to the Air Ministry for RAF Kidbrooke. In 1960 the former green was transferred to the local Council and was used for recreation, known as Rochester Way Playing Field. Kidbrooke Nature Reserve was created in the 1980s when the Rochester Way Relief Road was constructed.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Rochester Way Playing Field |
|---|---|
| Site location | Rochester Way/Nelson Mandela Road/Relief Road, Kidbrooke |
| Postcode | SE3 |
| What3Words | ///bowls.comical.summer |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Greenwich |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted (Nature Reserve locked) |
| Public Transport | Rail: Kidbrooke. Bus: 286. |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2007 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Kidbrooke Green is the last remaining marsh area of Kidbrooke, appearing on old maps of the 1800s. The name of the hamlet may come from the streams flowing from Shooters Hill into the Quaggy River. Until the C19th Kidbrooke was largely farmland, with the land that is now Kidbrooke Green Park part of Lower Kidbrooke Farm, later called Stud Farm. The farmland and old village green was sold in 1938 to the Air Ministry for RAF Kidbrooke, but in 1960 the former green was transferred to the local Council and was used for recreation and known as Rochester Way Playing Field. The Kidbrooke Nature Reserve was created in the 1980s when the Rochester Way Relief Road was constructed and following the discovery of Great Crested Newts on the bank, a conservation hedge was developed.
In 2003 Kidbrooke Action Group was formed to address community issues and undertook some improvements to the Playing Field, which was re-named Kidbrooke Green Park. New benches, litter bins, lighting and pathways were provided. In 2006 Friends of Kidbrooke Green Park was formed. The main part of the site is an open grass area with perimeter poplar trees, with a mound and tennis and ball courts with high fencing to Rochester Way. The base of a demolished pavilion remains in the park.
Between the boundary with Rochester Way and the Relief Road, the Nature Reserve forms a linear strip of land alongside the main area of the park. It provides a semi-natural wet woodland with small animal hides and a boardwalk; two ponds provide a habitat for many aquatic plants and amphibians.
Just to the south of the park, the Kidbrooke area is currently undergoing regeneration as part of a 15-20 year project by Berkeley Homes in partnership with Greenwich Council that commenced in 2009 to provide new homes and other facilities including a new public park as well as landscaping.
In 2003 Kidbrooke Action Group was formed to address community issues and undertook some improvements to the Playing Field, which was re-named Kidbrooke Green Park. New benches, litter bins, lighting and pathways were provided. In 2006 Friends of Kidbrooke Green Park was formed. The main part of the site is an open grass area with perimeter poplar trees, with a mound and tennis and ball courts with high fencing to Rochester Way. The base of a demolished pavilion remains in the park.
Between the boundary with Rochester Way and the Relief Road, the Nature Reserve forms a linear strip of land alongside the main area of the park. It provides a semi-natural wet woodland with small animal hides and a boardwalk; two ponds provide a habitat for many aquatic plants and amphibians.
Just to the south of the park, the Kidbrooke area is currently undergoing regeneration as part of a 15-20 year project by Berkeley Homes in partnership with Greenwich Council that commenced in 2009 to provide new homes and other facilities including a new public park as well as landscaping.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ412759 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.36 |
| Site Ownership | RB Greenwich |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces Department; Friends of Kidbrooke Green Park |
| Dates | 1960s |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | Yes: Common (CL100) |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Greenwich |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance (Nature Reserve) |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Community Open Space. Proposal for site improvement to Nature Reserve |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
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