Morden Recreation Ground

Morden Recreation Ground is the largest areas of green within the St Helier Estate in LB Merton, measuring approximately 10.4 hectares. Prior to 1933  the land was agricultural with a lodge.  The lodge appears to have some surrounding wooded areas and a few features as part of its setting.  Central Road and Green Lane which later come to surround the immediate vicinity were in existence prior to the recreation ground.  Map Surrey XIII.7 revised 1933, shows the extent of the Recreation Ground for the first time bounded by railway lines.  To the east off Farm Road is a path leading to a sizeable portion of mixed woodland as part of a feature of the otherwise blank area shown as recreation ground, surrounded by some housing.  The other side of the railway tracks can be found Haig Homes.

St Helier was the largest LCC estate to be built south of the river and spans the boroughs of Sutton and Merton; it was built between 1929-36 on 334 hectares of former farmland, purchased by the LCC between 1926-29. It is one of a number of important LCC cottage estates inspired by the Garden City movement encouraged by Sir Ebenezer Howard and the pioneering town planning of Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin. The common characteristic was small-scale housing, often with excellent detailing, cul-de-sacs, generous verges and communal open spaces. The estate was named after Lady Susan Mary St Helier, Councillor and LCC Alderman of from 1910-1927 who had campaigned for the improvement of housing facilities in London.

A map from 1952 (TQ2567-A published 1954) shows the introduction of a number of new features including tennis courts, a playground; a putting green; a bowling green; public toilets and a car park around a pavilion.  The woodland area remains.  In 2010 a new school Perseid School for children with severe learning difficulties was built (opening the following year) on part of the site replacing two football pitches, but a sizeable area of the historic recreation ground has remained minus putting green and car park.  The pavilion has also remained in situ and is now used by a local rugby club.  A bowling green and tennis courts are still available for use too.  New shrubland has grown up since 2003 on the other side of the park separate from the historic woodland referred to as a spinney (see below).  Two parallel avenues (running north-south) marked with oak trees crossing the site have existed since its inception, along with a tree lined path along the northern edge parallel to Central Road; and a less clearly demarcated path running along the edge of the playground towards farm road.

The historic woodland is described as a spinney in wildlife records. The spinney contains surviving foundations of The Lodge Farm, and is the site of a small estate called Spittell or Spital, which originally belonged to Merton Priory. Of medieval origin, it is a sensitive archaeological site consisting mainly of elm scrub but there is a scattering of more mature trees, such as sycamore, holm oak, ash, hawthorn and elder. Underneath there is much cow parsley and bramble, as well as stinging nettle, and black horehound. Ivy is everywhere, on the ground and climbing the trees. A more surprising find here is butcher's-broom, otherwise known as knee holly due to its low stature and dark spiky leaves. This plant is usually associated with ancient woodland but is most likely planted here.