It’s great to see that one of Brixton’s lesser-known small parks is getting some of the attention and care it deserves, although some locals still have reservations about visiting the park (see comments below) .
Loughborough Park is located behind Coldharbour Lane, and is wedged between Moorland Road and Loughborough Park.
The park currently has an adventure playground, children’s play area (dog free), One O’clock Club and some sports facilities, but big improvements are on the way, thanks to an initiative between Friends of Loughborough Park and Lambeth Council.
Plans include a new formal garden near the front of the park, an ‘edible hedge’ containing blackcurrant, gooseberry and raspberry bushes, plus hazel, plum and pear trees.
There’ll also be a community growing area at the back of the park letting locals get involved, with landscape contractors working throughout June and July to make the park improvements.
More info:
See 360º panorama of the park (2003)
Park location (click on map for bigger version).
Loughborough Park
Moorland Rd, Brixton, London SW9
Tel: 020 7926 9000
Lambeth website
Email:parks@lambeth.gov.uk
I’m gonna take a stroll when Gordon Brown finishes his Levenson evidence (assuming it’s stopped raining by then).
Who or what eats the hedge by the way? Ebony Pony club?
I see from the tender documents they are spending £100,000 to tarmac the community garden. There’s a news story right there…
Is that what used to be a “walled garden” area near the Loughborough Park entrance?
If so I have to report that the walls had been already flattened when I went through.
I think I could understand why though – there is a criminal element in that vicinity, attracted by the Lambeth PCT Crack clinic at 245 Coldharbour Lane. No doubt people had been abusing this quiet social space either drug dealing or drug taking. As Boris would say (quoting Cicero): O tempora o mores![Oh what times! Oh what customs!]
That park has always had a problem with drug users leaving syringes and drug debris all over the place. It’s not a new thing, and way way before any local drug clinic. I never let my children go there unaccompanied, even though they had no roads to cross to get there. It wasn’t a park we spent much time in even though it was right on our doorstep. It has always been a bit intimidating because of the drug users.
Jane: it’s a *lot* better these days. I live locally and we used to have a big problem with syringes being left around too, but most of the users seemed to have moved on.
I lived on the actual site of the park in a prefab [there were 16 in total] during the 1940s and 50s no drugs or problems. it was a pretty place ,a shame to alter I do realise progress goes on but in this case would have been better building houses.
Hi Ron,
I lived at 4 Park Gardens in a prefab in the early 1950’s, moving to Nottingham in 1953. Do you remember what number you lived at?
I lived at no 2 I remember ADAMSS at no1 at no3 were 2 men and at no5 MIMI WILLIAMS and at no16 was the CRUMP family. nice to hear from someone who remembers that in my mind was a freindly and good area to live. I would still like to know what hapened to the old railway carriges that we used to play in ?
I live locally, born in the area and living all my life within a two minute walk and the problem is there. It flucuates a bit. Sometimes it is worse sometimes a bit better but is still there. I don’t think it will ever change. There are a couple of local dog walkers who dispose of the needles when ever they see them or we wouldn’t be able to walk through there at all.
they could always build a mini barrier block on the park to house those homeless drug addicts
One assumes this comment is a send up. If not I disagree violently. We need all the green space we can conserve in Loughborough Junction.
Used to live in Coldharbour Lane and then Loughborough Park and must admit do not remember this park at all. There used to be old nurseries
In the 40/50s there were 16 prefabs we lived in no2. Since then can’t find anything about them! !!!!
They were still there in the early 70’s.