Regular users of St John’s Station may have noticed the overgrown patch of land tucked between Cliff Terrace and the station. Others might walk past it every day without realising it is there. Either way, it is a space that has gradually slipped into neglect.
The scrubland currently contains two completely dead trees, and the old railway sleepers along the edge of the slope are beginning to deteriorate. The lower section near the station also floods quite regularly. Because the site is rarely used, it has increasingly become a place for fly tipping.
The St John’s Society would like to change that.
We are beginning to explore whether the community could take responsibility for the land from Network Rail and restore it as a small woodland space for both people and wildlife. The first step would be to clear the site, make it safe, and bring it back into use as a green corner of the neighbourhood.
The space itself isn’t massive but it sits in a busy part of St John’s. With some care it could become a quiet place to stop for a few minutes, meet neighbours, or simply spend time among trees and plants. As well as being somewhere people can enjoy, the woodland could also help improve biodiversity in the area by creating habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife.
This idea forms part of the Society’s wider “Greening St John’s” plans to bring more greenery and shared spaces into the neighbourhood.
At this stage nothing concrete has been decided. Before putting together more detailed proposals for Network Rail and Lewisham Council, we want to hear from the people who live, work, and pass through St John’s.
What would you like to see in a space like this? What would make it feel welcoming and safe? Ideas could include planting, wildlife features, seating, paths, or small community uses.
We have put together a short survey to gather local views and help guide the next stage of the project.
If the woodland does move forward, we hope it will be something the community helps shape and look after, with opportunities for volunteers, schools and local groups to get involved over time.
If you would like to share your thoughts, you can take part in the survey here:
The Future of the Land Next to St Johns Station (Corner of Cliff Terrace/St. Johns Vale)
