Cator Park

Cator Park transforms 8h of an existing underused parkland into a biodiverse park for people and wildlife at the heart of Kidbrooke Village.

The new Chalk Stream transforms an existing underused parkland into a biodiverse park for people and wildlife, supporting the network of Green Infrastructure beyond the site boundaries, offering places for the local community to grow. At the highest and most northerly point of the park, and at the source of the chalk stream we have created a 3,000m3 wild play space creating a biophilic experience for ages 0 to 100. Limestone outcrops and climbing walls enclose the space and bespoke natural play towers create a dramatic focus the space, materials used in the construction have been repurposed and upcycled from standing deadwood trees, air preserved and reused as climbing frames to greenheart groynes pulled out redundant Thames jetties to be used as climbing walls and benches. Local children have designed a ‘stepping stone’ trail made from cast iron from clay reliefs they created with the design team. The vision returns nature to the city and challenges the perception that urban brownfield development cannot contribute to the wider ecological and biodiversity network whilst creating successful spaces for the community. Not only has nature returned but the parkland transformation has received an overwhelmingly positive response from local residents. This new park at the centre of the development will offer a legacy for the local community & London that will bring people together and form a sense of identity.