Morden Park (park)

This article is about the smaller of two parks in Morden. For the larger park, see Morden Hall Park. For the district of London, see Morden Park.
Trees in Morden Park

Morden Park is a 50-hectare (120-acre) public park and Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade 1, in the district of Morden Park in the London Borough of Merton.[1] Of this, 28 hectares (69 acres) is a Local Nature Reserve. It is owned and managed by Merton Council.[2][3] It includes Morden Park House (Registry Office).

Landscape

The site includes the Morden Park mound, a Scheduled Ancient Monument,[4] and Pyl Brook runs through.

Biodiversity

Some oaks are over 300 years old, and bird species include green and great spotted woodpeckers, coal tits and spotted flycatchers.[2] Grassland areas have wildflowers and a range of butterflies.[1]

Morden Park House (register office)

The park remains the grounds of the eighteenth-century Morden Park House, in the initial category of listed building Grade II which is used as a registry office, specialising in weddings, having also reception event-hire space for those married in religious or other venues.[5] In 1945 the house and park were purchased by Merton and Morden Urban District Council.[6]

Access is from Epsom Road, Morden Lane and London Road.[6]

Abandoned formal pitches proposal

In 2008, Merton Council proposed allowing Goals Soccer Centres to build seventeen football pitches of varying types, many of them floodlit, along with a clubhouse with a licensed bar on part of the park.[7] Following public objections, Merton Council abandoned this plan the next year.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Morden Park". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Morden Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Map of Morden Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Morden Park mound (1002011)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Register Office". www.merton.gov.uk.
  6. ^ a b "Morden Park". London Parks and Gardens Trust. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  7. ^ From the Campaign website: "Save Morden Park - Our Cause". Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
  8. ^ Cabinet Committee Meeting Document: http://www.merton.gov.uk/democratic_services/ds-agendas/ds-fpreports/833.pdf[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ News article http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/archive/2009/11/30/news_wimbledon/4761303._Victory_for_local_democracy__as_Morden_Park_football_plans_dropped/

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