Gilbert's Pit, Nature reserve in Charlton, Royal Borough of Greenwich, England
Gilbert's Pit is a nature reserve in Charlton covering about 5 hectares of protected land. The site features steep slopes with birch and oak trees, while gorse and broom grow on the upper areas above sandy soil.
The site operated as a sand quarry from the late 1700s until 1889 under the management of Mr E. Gilbert. The excavation work shaped the steep slopes that define the reserve today.
The nature reserve maintains educational programs about geological formations and local wildlife, supporting research activities and environmental understanding in Greenwich.
You can reach the site via Charlton Lane and follow a path starting from the information board in nearby Maryon Park. The route leads upward to the Cox's Mount viewpoint.
The reserve contains fossil-bearing sediments from 55 million years ago belonging to the Paleogene period. These ancient layers preserve remains of plants, sponges, molluscs, fish, and reptiles from that era.
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