Ruskin Park is a pretty local park in Camberwell, or maybe it’s Herne Hill, next to King’s College hospital. The oldest part of the park was created in 1907 on the site of several large houses and their gardens. It retains many of its original features, such as the duck pound and the bandstand. The playing fields – the dangly bit to the side – were added three years later. It’s not a very large park, in fact it’s very human sized, but it has plenty of interesting corners. Let me tell you more about Ruskin Park…

Ruskin Park quirks and features

The pergola and ornamental garden

In addition to the duck pond and its island, and the bandstand, the pergola that stands in the middle of the park is yet another original feature. It’s shrouded in wisteria, climbing roses and honeysuckle and smells heavenly in the summer. It overlooks the pretty ornamental garden (formerly a bowling green), a peaceful spot with plenty of benches to enjoy the tranquillity of the space.

The Felix Mendelssohn sundial

There’s also a sundial commemorating Felix Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn stayed in one of the houses in the area in the 1840s and was so inspired by his surroundings that he wrote Spring Song (original title: “Camberwell Green”) there. Back then, Camberwell was a peaceful, bucolic hamlet on the outskirts of London, and home to a large German community. (You can listen to Spring Song here.) You’ll find the Mendelssohn sundial in the ornamental garden.

The community garden and the “action corner”

The side of the park next to the railway lines has a community garden and, further along, a children’s play area and paddling pool, and a kiosk selling snacks and drinks. This part of the park is the active – and busy! – corner, with tennis courts, a football pitch and a very special outdoor gym.

The Grade II listed portico

One of Ruskin’s Park most unique features is the Grade II listed portico, the only remaining trace of the houses that were demolished to make way for the park (and what grand houses they must have been!).

The sadly derelict stable block

If you’re feeling brave, seek out another historical feature of the park, the Stable Block. Like the portico, this is a remnant of one of the large houses demolished to make way from the park. Unlike the portico, it’s in a terrible state of disrepair, covered with graffiti, and the area is fenced off. Local community groups are advocating for it to be restored and made available to the community. Who know, maybe it’ll happen one day…

Fun fact: the Pink Floyd connection

Ruskin Park was where the first official photo-shoot for Pink Floyd took place, and you can see the portico in the background. And you can read more about it here. (Also… aren’t those clothes amazing!?)

Did you know? Ruskin Park as an annex to King’s College Hospital

During the first World war, the park acted as an annexe to the then newly opened King’s College Hospital, with huts being built in the park to house convalescent soldiers.

The man who gave his name to Ruskin park: John Ruskin

Ruskin Park is named after John Ruskin (1819 – 1900), a prolific Victorian author, artist, art critic, and social reformer.

His writings covered travel, art criticism, literature, political economy, botany, architecture, ornithology, geology, myth, education, and … well, I’m probably forgetting a few. To say that he was immensely popular is a bit like saying that water is a bit wet. He was an influencer, or as close to these things that the Victorian times had.

In 1904, that little corner of London had been signed off to be sold to property developers, when a local resident, Frank Trier, started a campaign for a public park on that spot. He proposed naming the park after John Ruskin, to gather popular support and raise funding. After all, John Ruskin was a local: he grew up in Herne Hill and lived in Denmark Hill for nearly 50 years.

It was a clever move and it worked. The original Ruskin park opened in 1907. (The playing fields were created 3 years later.)

Ruskin Park was landscaped by J.J. Sexby, Chief Officer for Parks for the London County Council. He also did Brockwell Park nearby, and– amongst others – Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye Park, and Wandsworth Park.

Things to do in Ruskin Park

Do the Ruskin Park Tree walk

Ruskin Park is famous for the number of tree species on its grounds: over 40 of them, from all over the world. Most of them were planted when the park was created, so they are over a hundred years old. In fact, some of them are even older than that, since they originally stood in the gardens of the houses that were demolished to build the park.

You can do a self-guided Ruskin Tree Walk and learn more about the trees, the park, and John Ruskin himself. There’s a video to go with the walk, too.

Even if you don’t do the walk, you can glean information about that species a tree might be; some of them (not all) have a tag attached to the trunk that will tell you.

Enjoy free concerts on the bandstand in the summer

From July to October, the Friends of Ruskin Park organise free fortnightly performances. Sundays 15:00 to 17:00. See the full Music on the bandstand program here.

Workout in an outdoor gym made from melted-down knives

Steel Warriors are a charity whose mission is to fight knife crime. To that end, they melt down knives taken off the streets and use the recycled steel to build outdoor street gyms. They have two other locations, one in Tower Hamlet (Langdon Park) and one in Haringey (Finsbury Park).

The gym is open access, and they also have a smattering of classes. When I visited on a sunny summer afternoon, the equipment was gleaming in the sunshine in a most beautiful way. (It was also full of impressively buff young men, so no pictures, in case they got the wrong idea…)

Or you could do a bootcamp class.

Help out with the community garden

There’s a large active community garden with weekly drop-in gardening sessions. The garden has several raised bed, a greenhouse, and even has its own apiary!

The sessions take place on Saturdays from 12:00 to 15:00

Volunteer for litter-picking

This takes place every Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00. More info on the litter picking sessions here.

Take trapeze lessons

In the summer, you can take trapeze lessons with the TLCC Trapeze School. They have classes for all levels, from beginners to advanced.

Ruskin Park: practical information (and a handy tip)

Address: Denmark Hill SE5 8EL

Website: https://www.friendsofruskinpark.org.uk/

What’s on in Ruskin Park: https://www.friendsofruskinpark.org.uk/whats-on/

Nearest public transport: Denmark Hill (Overground, suburban trains)

Handy tip: Denmark Hill (the train station) has two exits, one on each side. The one that says Champion Hill is the most practical for Ruskin Park. With the station entrance behind you, go right. Ruskin Park is a couple of minutes away, on the other side of Denmark Hill (the road).

Opening times: from 7am to 15 minutes before sunset.

Facilities: there are toilets and a drinking fountain in the bottom left hand corner (the left hand side if you’re entering via Denmark Hill).

Newsletter: there’s a Ruskin park newsletter you can subscribe to.

Are dogs allowed in Ruskin park? Yes, but not everywhere

Want more green? Why not visit the National Trust managed Morden Hall Park in Morden? It’s utterly delightful, and even bigger than Ruskin Park. Or how about the Temple Gardens in central London, the most perfect green oasis? There’s also the double whammy of Harleyford Road Community Garden and Bonnington Square Pleasure Garden in Vauxhall – did I mention hidden gems? (It’s true, though, they really are!)

The post Things to do in Ruskin Park appeared first on Londonaire.