Creekside_Discovery_Centre

Creekside Discovery Centre

Creekside Discovery Centre

Nature reserve in Lewisham, London

The Creekside Discovery Centre is a 0.5-hectare (1.2-acre) natural habitat in Deptford in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is owned by the National Grid and managed by the Creekside Education Trust.

The Creekside Discovery Centre
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Formerly a gas works,[2] the centre is a brownfield habitat incorporating the only existing sloping beach into Deptford Creek.[3] Other habitats on the site include a pond, constructed in a project coordinated by the Creekside Education Trust in partnership with Lewisham College,[4] and a sandbank, built in 2001.[5]

History

The Creekside Centre became a nature reserve as a result of an agreement between the Creekside Renewal Project and British Gas, the latter was unable to build on the site due to the existence of a large-diameter gas pipe on the site.[3]

In 2015 the Friend’s of Creekside scheme was launched to help fund the charity, develop on-site facilities, and raise local awareness of the nature reserve.[6]

The site contains a 250kg propellor from a former Scottish fishing boat, the Northern Star.[7]

Wildlife

Historically the site has been associated with the black redstart, although habitat destruction in the wider area has meant they are no longer present. In 2011 sand martins began nesting in the sandbank on the site.[5]

Two nationally rare species of wasps have been found on the site; the spider-hunting wasp Auplopus carbonarius and the mason wasp Microdynerus exilis.[3]

Across the surrounding conservation area, 300 species of wildflower have been identified.[8]

Architecture

The original plans to develop an educational facility on the site involved a floating centre located in the creek itself. The eventual building design built was a timber framed, cedar-clad building, incorporating a brown roof was constructed in 2002 at a cost of £500,000.[2]

Events

The Creekside Centre provides educational sessions for local schools, guided walks along Deptford Creek, special events for the public, and venue hire.[9]

In 2012 the site hosted a performance of the Odyssey by local theatre group Teatro Vivo.[10]

Funding

The Creekside Centre has received funding from various sources including the City Bridge Trust.[11] Since the autumn of 2020 the centre has received funding grants through a partnership with the company constructing the Thames Tideway Tunnel.[12]

References

  1. [1]
    Palmer, Jim (24 April 2013). "Deptford attraction recognised for introducing young people to nature". News Shopper. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  2. [2]
    Galilee, Beatrice. “Voice in the Wilderness”. Building Design (January 17, 2003), p.11.
  3. [3]
    Archer and Yarham. ”British Gas site beside Deptford Creek”. Nature Conservation in Lewisham (London: 2000), p.102.
  4. [4]
    Gould, Kate. ”Up the Creek”. Deptford & New Cross & South London Press (July 26, 2013), p.1.
  5. [5]
    Bertrand, Nick. ”Nick’s mission to safeguard future of our ‘hidden gems’”. The Docklands (August 10, 2011), p.10.
  6. [6]
    Gould, Kate. “Discovering Creekside”. South London Press (September 11, 2015), p.2.
  7. [7]
    “CAP-ity do dah CAP-ity day” sgnmail, issue 63 (December 2011/January 2012), p.9
  8. [8]
    Hasson, Seamus. 'Walk on the Wild Side'. The Lewisham Ledger (August/September, 2018), p.26.
  9. [9]
    Gould, Kate. “Wading in to help”. South London Press (December 18, 2015), p.2.
  10. [10]
    The Odyssey, June and September 2012, The Albany Deptford. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  11. [11]
    ”Cleaning up Creekside”. City Bridge Trust Annual Review 2012: A Year in the Life of City Bridge Trust, P.14
  12. [12]
    Creekside Discovery Centre. Thames Tideway. Retrieved: 3 November 2023.
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