Southwark Park, Grade II listed park in Rotherhithe, England.
Southwark Park is a public green space in Rotherhithe, in the London Borough of Southwark, with a boating lake, a rose garden, a walled Old English Cottage Garden, and sports pitches. The park also has two small art galleries and a cafe on site.
The park opened in 1869, designed by Alexander McKenzie as one of London's first purpose-built public parks, serving a densely populated working-class area. The bandstand still standing today was made in 1884 and moved here from the Royal Horticultural Society grounds in South Kensington.
The rose garden is dedicated to Ada Salter, one of the first female mayors in London, who lived and worked in this part of Southwark. A statue of her and her husband Alfred stands in the garden as a reminder of their work for the local community.
The park is free to enter and its paths are flat and easy to walk, making it accessible for everyone. The cafe and public toilets are near the main entrances, which makes a longer visit comfortable.
A Tree of Heaven grows in the walled Old English Cottage Garden, planted by the Salter family, a species considered sacred in both Judaism and Buddhism. The tree is very rare in this part of London and stands out for its unusually large leaves.
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