The Woods
The Woods
Lesnes Abbey Woods has been a park since 1930. It has a beautiful ancient woodland with wild daffodils and bluebells in season and relaxing walks all year round. An arboretum contains over sixty varieties of tree, including three ‘fossil’ trees that have existed on our planet for millions of years.
The woods lie on an escarpment of sand and gravel rich in fossils from 60m years ago. The numerous black pebbles you see are smoothed flints and from a beach that was once here. There is a fossil pit where you are allowed to search for shark’s teeth!
Nature
Remember to follow the country code, respect the habitat of the wildlife and protect and save it for future visitors.
See what you can find as you roam the paths. There is not enough room to document all the things you might see, so best to take a species identification book or app.
Flowers: in March Daffodil Walk showcases the wild daffodils. In April, Abbey Steps has a good display of bluebells. White wood anemones and snowdrops can also be seen in abundance around this time.
Birds: the woods are full of birdlife, including woodpeckers. They are most active in the mornings and evenings and around spring time.
Trees: Lesnes Abbey Woods were once famed for their chestnut trees, and today there are still plenty to be seen among the oaks, holly and silver birch. Many trees are over 200 years old.
Insects: woodland butterflies and many other interesting insects can be observed, usually best seen on sunny summer days.
The woods also have many points of interest, including wild flower areas, several sculptures and two ponds. There are many good paths through this well managed and interesting environment. NOTE: some paths are quite steep.
Points of Interest
1) View over the abbey ruins and the City of London.
2) This mulberry tree was planted in the garden of Lesnes Manor House, around 1620, during the reign of James I.
3) These ponds are the remains of a navigable channel to the Thames and now a haven for wildlife.
4) The well was a late addition to the abbey to provide clean drinking water from deep in the chalk rock below.
5) 60m years ago, the woods were under the sea and fossilized shark’s teeth can be found in this fossil pit, an area of special scientific interest. The black pebbles found on the paths are from an ancient beach.
6) The highest point in the woods. The acidic soil can only support small trees and heathland. The upland areas were like this before urbanisation.
7) A 6000 year old bronze age burial barrow or Tumulus, These dry high grounds were popular for habitations.
8) Conduit Pond captures water from five springs. It fed water to the abbey by a conduit next to conduit path.
9) This area was part of Hurst House and once a pleasure garden open to the public. Pine pond was ornamental, feeding a fountain in the pond below.
10) The designer, William Morris, used an exotic cart to take visitors from the station and up Knee Hill, to the Red House.
Sculptures
a) This canon holds a crosier, the staff of office of an abbot. Lesnes Abbey was Augustinian and the canons here performed religious services for the community.
b) The round mosaic in the path shows some of the things that the canons did. Beekeeping provided honey as well as wax for the candles in the church.
c) The three arched iron windows are accurate replicas of those that were in the abbey. Around the park are several iron gates representing aspects of the abbey.
d) The Green Man is an ancient pre-Christian symbol of man’s harmony with nature, often displayed in early Churches to bridge the old and new beliefs.
e) This elegant carving complements the Green Man. It was carved by the famous wood carver, Tom Harvey.
f ) The data tree is a recent sculpture by Jonathan Wright. Its rotating crown sits atop an old dead oak. The text and micro sculptures tell the story of Lesnes Abbey Woods inspired by nature and local people.
g) Guarding the fossil pit is a life size carving of a Coryphodon. This mammal, a precursor to the modern horse, lived in the ancient forest here.
h) An open air classroom with a carved chair and benches.
i ) This carving represents nature and has a very life-like owl at its top, wings outstretched. Beneath it are other examples of wildlife. It is also by Tom Harvey.