Russia Dock Woodland
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(February 2010) |
Russia Dock Woodlandis a long narrow park inRotherhithe,London,created by the infilling of one of the formerSurrey Commercial Docks.The former Russia Dock was originally used for the importing ofsoftwoodtimberfrom Norway, Russia and Sweden. Known as "deal wood", it was mostly used for newsprint and for manufacturing furniture.
Following the closure of the docks in the early 1970s, the area was redeveloped by theLondon Docklands Development Corporation(LDDC). Russia Dock Woodland was made up of a number of docks, including Russia Dock, Island Dock and Surrey Basin, which were infilled (save for a thin 'stream' through the woodland) and planted as a 34.5-acre (140,000 m2) woodland in 1980. The Woodland still contains surviving dock features including the retaining wall capstones, depth gauges, bollards, mooring chains and tracks.
Management
[edit]The woodlands were established by the LDDC and were handed over to – and are now managed by – Southwark Council with the assistance of the Friends of Russia Dock Woodland.[1]The LDDC established various footbridges (including theAlfred Salterfootbridge) and paths (including Waterman's path along the stream) through the woods, which are now maintained bySouthwark Council.[2]The Conservation Volunteers(formerly the Trust for Urban Ecology) maintain the neighbouring Stave Hill Ecological Park.[3]Both areas are an excellent resource for residents of and visitors to Rotherhithe.[citation needed]
Stave Hill
[edit]
Stave Hill itself is a 30-foot (9.1 m) high artificial mound in the shape of a truncated cone, with a viewing platform and relief map of the former docks in cast bronze byMichael Rizzelloat the top. It provides views overCanary Wharf,theCity of London,and much of south and centralLondon;on clear days the view stretches as far asWembley Stadium.[citation needed]
It was created in 1985 by the LDDC, using waste material and rubble from the works to fill and landscape the former commercial docks.
References
[edit]- ^"Friends of Russia Dock Woodland".fordw.org.Friends of Russia Dock Woodland. Archived fromthe originalon 3 May 2019.Retrieved28 July2022.
- ^"Russia Dock Woodland".southwark.gov.uk.Southwark Council.Retrieved28 July2022.
- ^"Stave Hill Ecological Park".tcv.org.uk.The Conservation Volunteers.Retrieved28 July2022.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Russia Dock Woodlandon theWoodland Trustwebsite
51°30′04″N0°02′20″W/ 51.501°N 0.039°W
