Place    From 1976 

William Curtis Ecological Park

The William Curtis Ecological Park was the United Kingdom's first urban ecology park. Max Nicholson and the Trust for Urban Ecology (created at the same time, by Nicholson) created it on a derelict lorry park near Tower Bridge in London in 1976. It was named for the 18th century botanist William Curtis. In 1985 it was returned to the site owner, the London Docklands Development Corporation, who provided the Stave Hill Ecological Park in Rotherhithe as a replacement. City Hall and Potters Fields Park now occupy the site.

For more on Urban Ecology see The Conservation Volunteers.

The Nature of Cities gives the history of ecological parks: "Max Nicholson ... persuaded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Committee that they should create an Ecology Park as part of the celebrations to be held in 1977. His idea was to convert an unsightly patch of derelict land on the south bank of the Thames next to Tower Bridge into a mixture of natural habitats that could be used for environmental education by local schools.... two acres of derelict land were made available ... on the understanding that the park would eventually close when planned development went ahead....{it's} likely that Max Nicholson’s proposal was influenced by the work of Lyndis Cole, one of his staff ... She was a real pioneer and it was no surprise when she was given the job of creating the new ecology park at Tower Bridge.... During its short life, it had over 100,000 visits from local schoolchildren."

Other London ecology parks include: Camley Street Natural Park' Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Curtis Ecological Park

Commemorated ati

Max Nicholson sundial

This sundial has Roman numerals for winter time and Arabic ones for summer ti...

Read More

Other Subjects

Norwood Action Group

Norwood Action Group

A local group dedicated to the economic, environmental and social regeneration of the area.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture, Social Welfare

2 memorials
Ravensbourne Geological Society
1 memorial
Lower End Kingsdown Avenue Residents' Association

Lower End Kingsdown Avenue Residents' Association

Residents' Association in Purley. Their Facebook page, LeKARA, was created in 2019.

Group, Community / Clubs, History

1 memorial
Arsenal Football Club Supporters

Arsenal Football Club Supporters

Often referred to as 'Gooners', being a play on the team's nickname of the 'Gunners'.

Group, Community / Clubs, Sport / Games

2 memorials
All Saints Cemetery

All Saints Cemetery

Now known as Nunhead cemetery, it was one of the so-called 'magnificent seven' cemeteries, opened on the outskirts of London in the nineteenth century, to alleviate the overcrowding in parish buria...

Place, Community / Clubs

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Major Allan Beckett

Major Allan Beckett

Civil engineer. Born Allan Harry Beckett in East Ham. He designed the 'whale' floating roadways which were a crucial part of the Mulberry harbours that were used in the Normandy Landings in June 19...

Person, Engineering

1 memorial
William Caslon IV

William Caslon IV

In 1816 produced the first sans-serif printing type. Great grandson of William Caslon I.

Person, Craft / Design

1 memorial
George Baxter - EC1

George Baxter - EC1

EC1, Northampton Square, City University

The Bessemer plaque is on the pillar to the right, the Baxter plaque is on the wall to the left. A plaque was erected on the original ho...

2 subjects commemorated
National Lottery

National Lottery

The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom.  2020: It is operated by Camelot Group.  Some of its funds are distributed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Group, Commerce, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Baker Street and Waterloo Railway

Baker Street and Waterloo Railway

Constructed by the Underground Electric Railways Company of London, between Baker Street and Lambeth North, (then called Kennington Road). It was later extended to Elephant & Castle, and then t...

Place, Transport

4 memorials