Russia Dock Woodland

View of Russia Dock Path from Onega Gate

Russia Dock Woodland is a long narrow park in Rotherhithe, London, created by the infilling of one of the former Surrey Commercial Docks. The former Russia Dock was originally used for the importing of timber from Norway, Russia and Sweden. The soft wood, known as "deal wood", was mostly used for newsprint and for manufacturing furniture.

Following the closure of the docks in the early 1970s, the area was redeveloped by the London 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. In 1985 the LDDC added an artificial hill, Stave Hill, to the west edge of the park, using waste material and rubble.^[1] A relief map of the former docks in cast bronze by Michael Rizzello stands at the top of the hill.

Bronze by Michael Rizzello at sunset.

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. The LDDC established various footbridges (including the Alfred Salter footbridge) and paths (including Waterman's path along the stream) through the woods, which are now maintained by Southwark Council.^[2] The Conservation Volunteers(formerly the Trust for Urban Ecology) maintain the neighbouring Stave Hill Ecological Park,^[3] and works closely with the Friends of Russia Dock Woodland to address issues of concern to both areas.^[2] Both areas are an excellent resource for residents of and visitors to Rotherhithe.

References

External links

Russia Dock Woodland
Russia Dock Woodland, Stave Hill and Greenland Dock
Russia Dock Woodland on the VisitWoods website

Coordinates: 51°30′04″N 0°02′20″W / 51.501°N 0.039°W / 51.501; -0.039

Parks and open spaces in London

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Marshes & Wetlands	Aveley Crayford Erith Hackney Hornchurch Ickenham Ingrebourne Leyton Rainham Tottenham Walthamstow Wennington Woodberry Wetlands WWT London Wetland Centre

Woodland	Bostall Coldfall Copse Dulwich Epping Forest Grangewood Park Highgate Lesnes Abbey Mad Bess Old Park Oxleas Park Petts Queen's Russia Dock Sydenham Hill

House gardens	Belair Park Boston Manor Park Broomfield House Cannizaro Park Chiswick House Danson Park Grovelands Park Grove Park Gunnersbury Park Hampton Court Park Hillingdon Court Kenwood House Langtons Manor House Gardens Marble Hill Park Morden Hall Park Morden Park Osterley Park Syon House Valence House Museum Walpole Park

Entry-fee charging	Kew Gardens London Wetland Centre

Community gardens	Phoenix Garden Calthorpe Project

Parks and open spaces by London borough

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