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Peckham Rye joins Green Chain Walk - try it out THIS SUNDAY 31st

The Green Chain Walk, which started back in 1977, was set up to protect green spaces from development, and promote the enjoyment of the outdoors. Some locals will be aware that it’s now, pretty much, reached our bit of Southwark.

This Sunday 31st January, Walk London is offering a guided walk of the Southwark extension from Nunhead station to Crystal Palace, which will pass through Peckham Rye ward.

Leaving Nunhead station, the Green Chain will pass through Nunhead Cemetery and then to Camberwell New Cemetery. It will then head up the steep path to the top of One Tree Hill.

The Oak of Honour

This Sunday they’ll then be a chance to meet with resident, Ian White, at the pioneering self-build housing in Walter's Way for a talk. Then on to the Horniman for lunch.

The walk continues on to Sydenham Hill Woods Nature Reserve, past the modernist 'Six Pillars' and the 'Dulwich Wood House' into the former Upper Sydenham railway station, then a look at the Paxton Tunnel, a climb up the slope to Sydenham Hill before ending up in Crystal Palace Park. At this point they’ll be a chance to feed the Dinosaurs with walkers afforded the rare privilege of getting onto their island. (I’m very excited about this bit as I’ve admired the dinosaurs for years....)

The walk is free of charge and there’s no need to book. Meet at Nunhead station 10am. It’s about 6.5 miles and should be finish by 4.30pm. You can view the route here.

The guide is Ian Bull who can be contacted on 07799810178 and who has helpfully posted all these details on the SE23 website.

For those interested in the extension of the Green Chain Walk to Southwark, Sunday’s walk does seen to essentially follow the route one that has now been formally identified by Southwark Council.

Some local readers may have been aware of past attempts to get the extension to pass through the Aquarius Golf Course but this isn’t happening.

This route is accessible now (as we’ll prove on Sunday) but the next step is to improve signage and accessibility along the route. I understand, via council officers, that funding has been approved for the signage on the Green Chain in Southwark and this should be installed early in 2010 – presumably in time for the ‘official’ opening that’s planned for April. There is also a “pot of money” that parks and green spaces can access to help pay for improvements (this again is via the council so sorry if it sounds a little vague). Finally, the Peckham and Nunhead Area Action Plan provides the potential to set aside further investment to improve our own bit of the Green Chain.

Love the dinosaurs!

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