Creekside Discovery Centre

In 1999, a former gas works in Deptford was reborn. It became the Creekside Discovery Centre. This 0.5-hectare haven in the London Borough of Lewisham is a testament to urban renewal. The Creekside Discovery Centre is owned by the National Grid and managed by the Creekside Education Trust. It showcases how industry can make way for nature. The Creekside Discovery Centre offers a unique experience. It features the only sloping beach leading into Deptford Creek. Imagine exploring a brownfield site teeming with life. A pond, built in collaboration with Lewisham College, adds to the diversity. A sandbank constructed in 2001 provides a home for sand martins, which started nesting there in 2011. The Creekside Discovery Centre is a haven for rare species. Two nationally rare wasps, the spider-hunting wasp and the mason wasp, have been found here. Even more remarkably, it’s the only place in London where the critically endangered small-flowered catchfly grows. This wildflower is on the Plantlife Red List, highlighting its precarious existence. Over 300 wildflower species thrive across the surrounding conservation area. The Creekside Discovery Centre building itself is a marvel. The original idea was a floating centre on the creek. Instead, a striking timber-framed, cedar-clad building with a brown roof was built in 2002. This cost £500,000. The centre hosts events like guided walks, educational sessions, and even theatrical performances. In 2012, Teatro Vivo performed the Odyssey there. The Creekside Discovery Centre also receives funding from various sources. These include the City Bridge Trust and, since 2020, a partnership with the Thames Tideway Tunnel project. Did you know that the Creekside Discovery Centre houses a 250kg propeller? This relic from the Scottish fishing boat, the Northern Star, is a nod to the area’s maritime past. The Centre stands as a symbol of Deptford’s transformation, from an industrial hub to a place where nature and community flourish.