A visit to Brockley Hill Park Ornamental Garden

Forest Hill Society event 11th May 2025

On a most beautiful spring morning the Forest Hill Society organized the second visit to  Brockley Hill Park Ornamental Garden, a hidden gem in SE23 (see our previous report here)

Brockley Hill Park Ornamental Garden is an enclosed area by the south side of Duncombe Hill, part of the west side of Brockley view, the north side of Lowther Hill and east side of Brockley Rise.  This space was reserved as a ‘private open space or ornamental garden for the use and enjoyment of the people who would ultimately own and occupy properties that enclose the garden.’

detail from an OS map from around 1850 showing the original layout

It is like stepping into another world as you enter through one of the private houses that surround the area. Access is only for the residents and via private gates and fences. In fact only two properties that line the area do not have access, due to additional building works on those properties, and even multiple housing in flats have their own entrance to the space.

It was hard to believe we were minutes away from the noisy and congested south circular traffic. As soon as you are in the green park all you can hear are the birds singing and the slight rustle of the wind amongst the canopy of trees. The area is densely wooded and rises up quite a slope to the top where it joins Brockley view. 

Contained in the area are areas of seating for quiet contemplation, a fire pit, tennis courts and subtle play equipment for the residents. There is also a recent community garden set up on an area that was running a bit wild where residents can now share in the love of growing and harvesting, for their own purposes fresh home grown produce from rhubarb to beans, wild garlic and berries.

Historically the original intention was to build a church in the middle of the land but this never materialised thus the tennis court was created on the levelled out area instead. The tennis court  was such a well used resource in lock down there needed to be a rota to use it from 8am in the morning until 9pm at night! It isn't known why the plan to build the church was abandoned but St Saviours Church was no doubt erected in place of this one.

The park is run nowadays by an elected board made up from freeholders of abutting properties and a limited company set up in 2011 to ensure that the park and its trust is upheld for all the users and for the community. 

The Trust deed states’ the purpose of the Trust is to ensure that the land should be enjoyed, as a garden and pleasure ground, for the benefit of the people living on the plots that signed the deed, as long as they proportionally contribute to the cost of maintenance of the land and fences.’ 

To keep the cost of running the park as low as possible and to still serve the community, directors and other members of the park community take on a range of responsibilities such as mowing the grass areas (they have a tractor and there is never a shortage of volunteers to mow the grass areas!), clearing the undergrowth and building new facilities.

The social club organises amazing community events each year for residents and their guests including fireworks on bonfire night, and easter egg hunt for the children, a teddy bears picnic, big band concerts, camping out nights, barbecues and even their own ‘Party in the Park’.

Brockley Hill Park Ornamental Garden truly is a special place to visit and explore and must be equally inspiring on a cold and chilly winter day too. As we walked around amongst the trees and wildlife seeing the amazing vista from the top, where you can spy One Tree Hill, the Horniman Museum and Christchurch all nestled amongst so much greenery it really made us appreciate what a fabulous part of south London we live in and how much green space we do have and are so lucky to be a part of. We thank Jan and Diana so much for sharing Brockley Hill Park Ornamental Garden with us and spending time taking us around and giving such a fabulous insight to the history and joy this space gives the lucky residents.