In the centre of south east London's urban sprawl and a stone's throw from the Dome, Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park is an underused resource. Reporter MELANIE GOMM discovered what it has to offer visitors

RECENT weather suggests this spring has well and truly sprung. But if you cannot afford to head out of the city for some clean air and well-deserved R&R or you are just too lazy to leave zone two then the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park could prove the ideal compromise.

From the 1880s onwards the peninsula was a popular site for the gas and chemical industries, but by the 1970s it was a derelict wasteland.

In 1997, regeneration agency English Partnerships bought the 50-acre site and spent £2.5m and three years transforming it into a wildlife haven which attracts hundreds of species of animals and birds every year.

The park is managed by the Trust for Urban Ecology (True) and senior warden Joanne Smith, 38, explained how the park, which opened in 2002, is made up of two lakes and has seven main habitats.

"We have lakes, marsh, shingle beach, alder carr [woodland found in wet areas], willow beds, wildflower meadow and shallow pools and all have been specially designed to encourage wildlife.

"None of the wildlife was bought in. It has come to live here because of the clean water which comes from a borehole."

Joanne's small team of wardens and volunteers maintains the park with its interlocking walkways and camouflaged bird hides. They allow visitors to get close to nature without disturbing it.

"It is amazing how quiet and peaceful it is here. Despite the fact that we are so close to industry and housing, it seems so big," said Joanne.

The park, which attracts thousands of visitors a year, will host many activities over the holidays.

"There will be a whole range of drop-in activities for children of all ages and our Wildlife Watch Club for eight to 14-year-olds will be meeting up on April 27 to take a closer look at the birds in the park," said Joanne.

Her plan for the future is to increase the educational possibilities of the ecology park and to provide more activities for adults.

The park is a 10 to 15-minute walk from North Greenwich Tube and entry is free. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. There are special opening times on bank holidays.

For more information on the park, call 020 8293 1904 or visit http://www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk

CALLING ALL SPECIES

The park also has four features specially designed to attract specific species.

Bat tower: The lakes' aquatic environment is home to many creepy crawlies which make tasty food for Britain's native bat species, like the Pipistrelle.

Kingfisher tunnel: These brightly coloured and often illusive birds like to nest in holes in the riverbank. The park has specially designed holes in its man-made banks to encourage these creatures.

Tern rafts: These are floating, shingle covered platforms that mimic the natural habitat of the common tern, a seagull-like bird.

Standing deadwood: Old wood makes an excellent refuge for loads of insects like Stag Beetles who are now a protected species.