A late summer walk on Woolwich Common
It feels like countryside, but we are in London and only nine miles from Trafalgar Square.
Late summer on Woolwich Common is a quietly subdued time. The trees are still green but the grasses are a wonderful light gold colour, creating a calming atmosphere in which to walk.
Start your walk on the flat area next to Ha-Ha road, in front of the Royal Artillery Barracks. A fair is being set up here in readiness for the Bank Holiday weekend. While it is quiet now, there will be much squealing and laughter over the weekend!
The grass is short here and there are several paths so you can create a route to suit your mood.
Continue your walk into the upper area where there is a clear, easy perimeter path. The grass here stands tall and at this time of year there are blackberries, apples, sloes and plums, and fruits are developing on the service trees, hawthorns and oaks.
Apples, sloes and blackberries, service tree fruit and Sessile oak acorns. Image: Candy Blackham
There is a little grove of trees in the centre of this upper area, quite hidden - wander through here on one of your visits. If you enjoy the trees, wander along the short woodland walk alongside Stadium Road and the Stadium Road car park.
And come back in the summer when the fruit trees are in flower and the wildflowers are abundant.
Perennial Sweetpea, Mallow and Ragwort and Goats rue. Image: Candy Blackham
Woolwich Common was once owned by the Crown but treated as "common land", i.e. it could be used for grazing cattle and gathering firewood.
Today it is owned by the Ministry of Defence while the Friends of Woolwich Common litter pick, conduct surveys and keep careful watch on the diversity of the site.
The army was stationed in the Royal Artillery Barracks on the north side of the common, which are Grade II* listed. But they are now leaving and will sell the barracks by 2028.
Greenwich council began initial consultation in February saying: “Any proposals must make a positive contribution to local people while retaining the distinctive character and heritage of the site.”
But is the council sufficiently knowledgeable to provide appropriate care for these significant green spaces?
The common is a Conservation area and as a large green space is already making a contribution to local people.
Will the need for housing result in tower blocks, with new roads through the sunken area known as green hill below the Rotunda? Will we still have unfettered public access to the secretive, magical and historically important Repository Woods?
Read more about the history of the common and the related sites of Woolwich Arsenal and the Royal Military Academy in my book Green Greenwich.
Candy Blackham is author of Green Lewisham and Green Greenwich, which lead you through the green spaces in each borough. Green Greenwich is also available at Greenwich libraries.
Amended 23 August 25 11.00 to correct wildflower names.
