The Rookery, Streatham Common

[Orang Utan]

I know it's not quite in Brixton but is everyone aware of this magical place? A beautiful sanctuary away from the madness. I've just spent the whole day there, rolling down hills, fishing for tiddlers and lying under splendid monkey puzzle trees. It's a lovely place but no-one seems to be aware of its existance.

 

[zuszsa]

Is it so magical you dont want to share it's location?

 

[brix]

I didn't know anything about it. Had to Google it to work out where/what it was. http://www.streathamsociety.org.uk/the_rookery.htm Looks lovely - can't believe I didn't know about it!

 

[Mrs Magpie]

There have been a few sexual assaults/rapes/gaybashings there which may have dented its popularity over the years.

 

[Tricky Skills]

Looks a little like the Secret Garden at Brockwell Park - shhhhh!!

 

[Biddlybee]

I can't believe I've only just found out about both... think I'll be exploring in the next few weeks

 

[lang rabbie]

There have been a few sexual assaults/rapes/gaybashings there which may have dented its popularity over the years.

Horrific though those attacks are, it should be stressed they were in the middle of the night in the area between the nearby car park and woodland on Streatham Common, not in The Rookery Gardens when they are open to the public in daytime.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Yes, but people don't read the local paper in the dark, so the image sticks....I've been on my way to the Rookery with children and picnic stuff and the well-meaning have warned me off....I'm not saying I wouldn't go there, just the the local folk-memory says it's not that safe.....

 

[Orang Utan]

Well, I was there TODAY and it was full of happy families having fun. Hardly a dangerous place at all.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I'm not saying it's not safe, I'm saying there are people who perceive it to be unsafe...I should have said people attempted to warn me off...I still went, but the fact remains there are people who don't go there anymore

 

[Mrs Magpie]

More trying to explain why it seems to be a well-kept secret....

 

[Disco Squirrel]

It's hardly a dodgy place at all. Like Orang said it is full of happy families, old people and people just chilling out. I believe that the Rookery is closed at night anyway and I doubt that muggings would take place there during the day as it is very busy.

 

[tarannau]

I haven't been down there in well over 20 years! I can dimly recall walking around there and thinking it impressive, but it's all blurred into one big muddy memory of Streatham Common. In my memories it seems to be miles away from everything else, which I'm sure isn't the case.

I think I'm going to have to take a trip down to remind myself now

 

[OpalFruit]

It's lovely.
The cafe at the entrance is minging, though, sadly!

 

[Leon]

It's lovely.
The cafe at the entrance is minging, though, sadly!

Teeheehee, always has been - it is part of the Rookery's charm.

 

[lang rabbie]

It's lovely.
The cafe at the entrance is minging, though, sadly!

They have a coffee machine now that makes a rough appropriation to an espresso now, though it ain't cheap.

The tea is still as foul and over stewed as ever - and will probably shortly be listed by English Heritage as a fine exemplar of beverage production c.1940.

 

[saucisson]

I love it, tis a bit like the secret garden in brockwell...but on different levels and with more of a stately home feel. lovely to sit on the benches in the sunshine and look at the monkey puzzle tree. last year they left it sort of fallow but its back to its best now, this has inspired me to get up there tomorrow.

 

[dogmatique]

*Brief and probably inaccurate*

The Rookery was originally part of the gardens of the long lost Streatham Hall, which Dr Johnson used as a country retreat at the behest of the owners as a place to complete his dictionary.

I've only ever felt nice things about the place, and have enjoyed it innumerate times, especially with my small friend Isobel, (three years old and counting) who makes me hide in the bushes and make houses with her in the shelters.

Love it. And I'm sure anyone who knows the outdoor theatre in the summer would agree.

Perfect for families and kids, especially for wild ring neck parakeet spotting.

 

[editor]

I've never even heard of this place before - let alone visited it - but it's a lovely little park.

It used to be a proper spa with spring water and every t'ing!

More photos of The Rookery

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Reminds me of the garden in Brockwell

 

[ajdown]

Discovered it meself for the first time about a month ago - definitely going to go back some time.

My inferior photography here: http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/ajdown/rookery/

 

[Brixton Hatter]

nice one, great pics - I've never been there before either, must do a visit.

As well as the big parks like Brockwell etc, apparently there's about 60 or 70 other parks/green spaces in Lambeth. The Cemetery in West Norwood was a totally unexpected surprise when I moved in round the corner for a bit, ditto Myatts Fields near where I live now. Plenty more local exploring to do I think....!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Discovered it meself for the first time about a month ago - definitely going to go back some time.

My inferior photography here: http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii203/ajdown/rookery/

Did you know we can look at all your albums?

 

[ajdown]

Nothing private in there I wouldn't want people to see.

Apart from the naked pictures, of course.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Nothing private in there I wouldn't want people to see.

Apart from the naked pictures, of course.

I must have missed them.

Probably a good thing though

 

[RaverDrew]

Was my favourite haunt when I used to bunk off school.

 

[themonkeyman]

It's really nice that place, I was surprised at it when I first went there.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I feel a little father and daughter walk coming on.

 

[editor]

I took another walk on the weekend. It looked lovely.

http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2015/08/...ams-delightful-rookery-streatham-common-sw16/

 

[RoyReed]

The Rookery was one of my favourite places to go when I was a kid back in the '50s and '60s. It was a bit more densely planted back then and had more trees. It lost quite a few in the big storm.