Things to do and see
Shuttle Riverway - Stage 2, The Hollies to Bexley Woods
Route Guide
The Shuttle Riverway is a signposted walk along the River Shuttle, a small
tributary of the River Cray, which it joins at Hall
Place near Bexley. The walk then joins the Cray Riverway,
which follows the Cray through to the Darent at Crayford Marshes and through the
marshes to the Thames. The route for walkers is described in three sections, starting
from the Green Chain Walk at Avery Hill Park and continuing eastwards eventually
to join up with the Cray Riverway at Hall Place. The entire walk covers a distance
of approximately 5 miles but it is possible to start and finish this walk at various
points along its length.
Marlborough Park - 6
Primitive plants such as liverworts and horsetails can be seen
in quite large numbers in the damper areas along the river. The liverwort is one
of the simplest forms of plant; each one is a flat structure called a thallus
which may have tiny cup-shaped reproductive organs on the upper surface. The horsetails
are more advanced, being differentiated into stems and branches with leaves represented
by toothed sheaths around the stem.
Sidcup Golf Course - 7
The Riverway passes to the north of Sidcup Golf Course. Along
both banks of the river several alder trees can be seen. They can be recognised
by their characteristic rounded leaves and the distinctive small black cones which
often stay on the trees throughout the winter. Alder seeds have air pockets which
enable them to float on water and so disperse along rivers. The seeds are an important
winter food for finches such as siskin, goldfinch and redpoll.
Lamorbey Park - 8
To the south of the golf course lies Lamorbey Park, which can
be reached by making a detour south down Burnt Oak Lane for 440 yards and entering
the Park at the main gates. The estate dates from the end of the 15 th Century.
The present house, dating from cl750, has been enlarged and improved over the
years, the architect John Shaw being responsible for its present appearance. The
house had many owners and tenants and was at one stage a private hotel. It is
now part of the rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama.
Penhill Bridge - 9
This area is notable for the presence of water voles, which can
frequently be seen at quiet times of the day from Spring to Autumn, either swimming
or feeding on grasses or water plants. Even when the voles are not out in the
open, evidence of their presence can be seen in the form of the closely-cropped
feeding areas and the obvious burrows.
 Riverside
Walk - 10
Several non-native trees occur in this section such as the invasive
sycamore, which grows all along the river,. and the american red oak, horse chestnut
and walnut found at the eastern end of the walk (photo courtesy of Tony Coppen).
Introduced trees are, in general, of less conservation value than native species,
largely because they provide food for fewer species of insect. For example, our
native oaks support over 400 species whilst sycamore only supports 43.
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