Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park
Greenwich Peninsula
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A four-acre freshwater wetland nature reserve on the Thames Path, run by The Conservation Volunteers, with lakes, marshland, a wildflower meadow, bird hides and free entry.
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park is four acres of freshwater habitat tucked beside the Thames Path, and one of the most surprising green spaces in the borough. Open to the public since 2002, it has grown into an established, wildlife-rich urban wetland, owned by the national land management charity the Land Trust and cared for on its behalf by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), with park wardens and a dedicated team of volunteers.
At its heart are two lakes surrounded by marshland, which support a wide range of birds and insects. A small woodland of alder trees, which thrive in waterlogged ground, rings the edge of the park, and in the centre is a walk-in wildflower meadow that feeds insects and, in turn, bats, birds and frogs. You might spot anything from newts and frogs to stag beetles and butterflies, and two specially designed bird hides give close-up views of the birdlife, which changes with the seasons: snipe and water rail in winter, reed warblers and swifts in summer.
Entry is free and there's no need to book: you come in through the wooden Gatehouse on the Thames Path, and boardwalks and a new bridge lead you around the site. It's a lovely place for a quiet walk, a spot of birdwatching or a family visit, and the team runs seasonal events through the year, such as nature trails and the annual winter fayre.
The park is also a classroom. Schools can book hands-on visits with the wardens on Mondays and Tuesdays, linked to the National Curriculum, with guided tours, minibeast hunts and microscopy sessions. Volunteers are always welcome at the regular Wednesday conservation workdays, helping with everything from reed cutting to willow coppicing, and corporate teams can book workdays too. The Friends of Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, a registered charity in its own right, raises funds for special projects and supports the park's work.
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Free entry: visit the nature reserve
Free entry Wednesday to Sunday through the Gatehouse on the Thames Path, with boardwalks, lakes, a wildflower meadow and two bird hides.
School visits and education
Hands-on half-day and full-day visits on Mondays and Tuesdays, led by the wardens and linked to the National Curriculum: guided tours, minibeast and newt hunts and microscopy sessions. Now booking for spring and summer 2027.
Volunteer conservation workdays
Weekly Wednesday workdays, 10am to 3pm, helping the wardens care for marsh, meadow, lakes, ponds, shingle beach and woodland. Just turn up; first-timers fill in a TCV welfare form.
Corporate volunteering days
Team workdays in autumn, winter and early spring, from reed cutting and meadow cutting to willow coppicing and tern raft management. Contact corporate-enquiries@tcv.org.uk.
Seasonal events
Family events through the year, including nature trails, bulb planting and the annual winter fayre with willow wreath making.
Join the Friends group
The Friends of Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park (registered charity 1119415) raises funds for special projects and supports the park. Email gpep@tcv.org.uk to join the mailing list.
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