Rush Common’s woodland walk provides a calm restful environment for those seeking some tranquillity in the neighbourhood, or walking into and out of Brixton. We are working to safeguard and add to the natural woodland character of Rush Common, while repairing facilities and adding more for play and fitness. We are looking first at the stretch nearest to Brixton: opposite Lambeth College, and between Brixton Water Lane and St Matthew’s Road.
How can you get involved?
- We would like to know how you use this stretch of Rush Common and what kind of improvements would help you enjoy this special environment, and use it more often.
- We are exploring ideas for improvements in play, seating, and fitness, but we are open to ideas if you have other suggestions.
- Please fill in the short online survey, between now and the 30th September.
Where did the Woodland Walk come from?
Rush Common was once part of the common land for the Manor of Lambeth. Parts of the old Rush Common were deliberately protected from development, and still are, including the land around St Matthews Church, Windrush Square, and alongside Brixton Hill.
A line of parkland
As building was prohibited, much of the protected land alongside Brixton Hill was enclosed in Victorian gardens, with the houses set well back. In the 60s and 70s as Lambeth Council acquired land for housing estates it deliberately created a line of park land, towards creating this peaceful woodland walk. The trees you see here now are either left over from the gardens, often showing where the fence lines were, or planted more recently.
