Lavender Pond

Lavender Pond is a 2.5-acre local nature reserve in Rotherhithe, within the London Borough of Southwark. It sits on the site of the former Surrey Commercial Docks, where timber was once floated to keep it from drying out. The pond itself was part of a much larger Lavender Pond before the entrance was blocked in 1928. A pumphouse was built to control water levels, and when the docks closed in 1970, the area fell into neglect. In 1981, the pond was recreated as part of a nature reserve, restoring a small piece of the original landscape. The reserve includes a wildlife pond, wet meadows and native trees planted in the woodland area. It serves as a haven for wildlife and a place for local residents to enjoy. Some parts are left undisturbed for nature, while others are used by schoolchildren for learning. The Conservation Volunteers manage the site on behalf of Southwark Council. The pond’s history is tied to the docks, where timber was once stored and transported. Visitors can enter the reserve freely from Lavender Road or Salter Road, as the pond area is unfenced. The woodland, however, remains locked with no public access. The former Pumphouse once housed the Rotherhithe Heritage Museum, which displayed artefacts from the Thames shore dating back to Roman times. Though the museum closed in 2011, the pond and its surroundings remain a quiet spot in the city.