The following sites are closed to the public, however, all of them are visible from the periphery and are important to the patch: “The sum is greater than the parts”.
Kingshill Nature Conservation Area
On maps this appears as Kingshill Avenue Allotments. The whole area was wartime allotments, but after the war trees naturally took over, and the council designated it a Nature Conservation Area. The Council then leased a strip of land next to the Beverley Brook from the gas company, and designated the whole area a Local Nature Reserve. Unfortunately the gas company has since taken back the land, fenced it off, and cut down most of the trees. However, the whole area is still designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. It is best viewed from the Gas Holder Wood.
The Paddock
Now known as Lower Morden Equestrian Centre, there have been stables and riding pens here since 1975, and at one time swallows nested in summer. The horses add much to the character and biodiversity of the area, both here and on ‘Hide Hill’. At the far end of the paddock there are some grazing pens and an area of scrub that can be viewed from Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery. Wheatear, Black Redstart and Little Egret have been seen here.
Arthur Road Plant Nursery
Officially Thompson’s Nursery, most of this site consists of commercial greenhouse. However, it does have some interesting features. At the back of the nursery are 2 acres of deciduous woodland that can be viewed from Morden Cemetery. Next to a path that runs north-south between the nursery and Sir Joseph Hood, is an area of abandoned green houses that has become overgrown and a wildlife haven.
Arthur Road Allotments
These are owned my Wandsworth Council and called Morden (Lane) Allotments, perhaps because they were once part of the Parish, or an old footpath once went through the site. Like cemeteries, allotments are becoming increasingly important for biodiversity, and they always worth a visit. There are a good variety of trees near the entrance, and a drainage ditch runs alongside the road, towards the rugby club, that attracts some interesting wildlife.
The Rugby Club
Officially Dornan Fields, this is the home of Old Blues and King’s College Old Boys. It is worth a visit if a game is on, just to see some of the oaks that line the old hedgerow boundaries. There is also some scrub at the far end that backs onto Derwent Floodwash. Otherwise they are visible from Morden Cemetery, and worth a look through the fence in winter for the Gulls.
Sparrowfeld Patch 