Burgess Park is one of South London’s largest green spaces, stretching across Camberwell, Walworth and Peckham. It’s a place to walk, cycle, meet friends or spend some time looking out for local wildlife.
But there’s more to the park than its open lawns.
A home for urban wildlife
The park has a mix of habitats, including a lake, meadows, woodland and wetland areas. These support a range of wildlife, from water birds and bats to dragonflies and other insects.
The lake is a good place to start. Look out for mallards, coots and swans on the water, and keep an eye out for bats feeding nearby. Around the reeds and ponds, you might spot dragonflies during the warmer months.
These smaller habitats are important in a city where wildlife has to share space with roads, buildings and busy streets.
A park with a history
Burgess Park hasn’t always been a green space. It was developed over several decades after the Second World War, on land that once held homes, factories, streets and part of the Grand Surrey Canal. The park gradually took shape as these areas were cleared and joined together.
Today, it provides a large area of accessible green space for the surrounding community, alongside places for sport, gardening and recreation.
Make a visit
Next time you’re in South London, take a walk around the lake and explore some of the park’s quieter nature areas. Visit at different times of year and you’ll notice how the wildlife and habitats change with the seasons.
You don’t need to travel far out of London to find nature. Sometimes, it’s right in the middle of your local park.
📍 Burgess Park, Southwark, London
Have you spotted any wildlife here? Let us know what you’ve seen!