Your author asked the other day for some recommendations of places to cover in the Christmas period, and one which came up, courtesy once again of
IanVisits was the Oxleas Wood Cafe in at the top of Shooters Hill in South London. It is, apparently a great cafe, with panoramic views Southwards towards of the Kent borders.
On the edge of the 77 hectare Oxleas Wood, which is apparently around 8,000 years old, it has been run by Mario Le Voci for around 10 Years, with a new cafe opening in July 2007.
Your author isn't quite sure if it is even open today, so readers should telephone in advance. For more information, see
http://oxleawoodcafe.info/^Picture © Elsie Esq used under Creative Commons^
Must pay it a visit
ReplyDeletethe 8000 year antiquity of oxleas woods has been agreed by various commentators on the grounds that 'high fidelity indicator' species live here. this includes the wild service tree which does not spread by seeding but through tree suckers, effectively leading the conclusion that where they are found, they have been since the woodland began. the wild service tree was also known as the chequers tree, apparently due to the check patterns on the bark, and its berries were used to flavour an alcoholic drink - with various london pubs possibly being named chequers as a result.
ReplyDeletethe old age of the woods, their numerous species, and the affection they are held in has saved them from govt attempts to concrete them over on 2 notable occasions (ringway2, elrc), and the woods also played a part in the shelving of the recent thames gateway bridge plans, which would have fed the lobby for more trunk roads in selondon.
near the woods are also woodlands farm, reportedly the only 'real' farm left in london, and severndroog castle, a folly which is due to be restored to public use as a result of a long lasting campaign.
lubetkin fans can also see his first british work (some modernist houses) on nearby genesta road.