Urban Nature Reserve
UPDATE regarding - Concerns over Gorne wood property listings
On 22nd November 2025 Gorne Wood - aka 'the Old Scout Hut, 8A Courtrai Road SE23' -
was put up for sale. Two months later and the sales listing is still live
Lewisham Council have installed robust hoarding along the Gorne Wood fence line having deemed the former scout hut structure unsafe and at risk of collapse. Despite serving an enforcement warning to the land owners AA Homes and Housing, no steps seem to have been taken by them except for a couple of hastily erected hand made notices with 'keep out' scribbled across them.
Cllr.James Walsh has now offered a meeting and we look forward to speaking with him in early February. Hopefully we will get an update on the Council progress with the Gorne Wood acquisition plans.
This week the Campaign for Rural England (CPRE London) will be releasing their report on 50 green spaces at risk in London. The report is supported by Dame Judy Dench and we are saddened that Gorne Wood is one of the 50 despite all our/your efforts.
The Mayoral candidates for the May elections 2026 so far are Amanda De Ryk (Labour) and Liam Shrivasava (Green Party). Please talk about Gorne Wood with them. Whether you care about Gorne in respect to children's outdoor education, wildlife protection or Lewisham's Great North Wood heritage, we urge you to tell them.
We will keep you updated and thank you again for your continued support and encouragement.
The Fourth Reserve
Thanks again for all your support.
Please rest assured we are doing all we can and will keep you updated.
The Fourth Reserve Foundation manage the Buckthorne Cutting Nature Reserve & campaign to protect and preserve the Forest Hill to New Cross Railway Cutting. We are also involved in other local community projects to bring nature into urban spaces.
The Buckthorne Cutting Nature Reserve is a wildlife sanctuary and nature refuge in the heart of South East London. It was founded by and looked after by the Fourth Reserve Foundation.
Located between Crofton Park SE4 and Honor Oak Park SE23, Buckthorne Cutting is used as a resource by schools and local community groups for nature themed purposes. It is also open to the public on open days, volunteer workdays and events.
Who we are
This Month at the reserve...
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Our volunteers have helped Nik, Tommy and Pam push forward with lots of habitat work. Plum tree pruning, hedgerow planting and bramble removal are just some of the tasks undertaken over the last couple of months.
It's a joy to carry out the work and stop to watch the wood peckers nesting, to see the bees and butterflies darting about and to witness the damselflies and dragon flies swoop around the ponds.
This year we have recorded (with the help of residents) 6 slow worms and 7 stag beetles so far. We've also released 4 hedgehogs.
We have provided a home to two rehabilitating foxes, Angel and Big Ears and the soft aviary is always full of birds ready for release having survived trauma. Fox Angels - Susaan and Conchi and bird rescuer Wei - you're amazing.
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Workshops
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Talks
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Open days
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Primary school curriculum sessions
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Opportunities for learners at secondary school or in further education.
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Corporate volunteering opportunities
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Community volunteering
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Fantastic forest club
Have an idea for another group activity?
Contact us:
fourth.reserve@yahoo.com
You can join our team of volunteers and help us keep this fantastic reserve going.
Donate on-line to help us achieve our projects including increasing meadows, ponds and hedgerow.
Come to our open days and events
Join our mailing list and help with campaigns.
Whatever you do we would love to have you :)