As part of their summer volunteering period, the Wellcome Trust joined GreenTheUK and The London Wildlife Trust at the nature reserve New Cross Gate Cutting. The site, which was dug in 1838-39, is one of the one of the most important railway cuttings for wildlife in London as it boasts a mixture of woodland and grassy glades that are home to over 170 species of flowers.

The team arrived on a very hot morning and kicked off with a tour of the site, learning a bit about the history of the cutting and taking note of the different conservation work that needed support. First off was trimming back a large section of bramble that was crowding out one section of woodland and preventing other species from growing. The site is both home to and a thoroughfare for many small mammals who use a man-made water feature. To ensure the safety of these mammals, the team built and inserted ramps into the basin to allow easier access in and out for woodland creatures.

While the site is only open to the public on certain open days, accessibility and safety are important features. The Wellcome Trust team carried out some much needed work to build new stairs and repair others, as well as ensure other locations had non-slip nails put into the wood.

Thank you to the Wellcome Trust for helping to maintain such a hidden gem of biodiversity in London.