Camley Street was saved from being turned into a lorry park in 1982, by Londoners, for Londoners, and it has been protected for the community ever since.
It is the only nature reserve to be found in the densely populated Kings Cross and is visited by thousands of local people every year.
The old building, which was erected in 1984 and has accommodated thousands of visitors, had a certain charm but was slowly falling apart. It was leaking, the wood had started to rot, poor insulation meant that it was freezing in winter and the bathrooms and kitchen were not the best. Something had to be done!
We undertook months of community consultation to decide what was needed, how the site could be designed better and what we could offer local people in the future. In 2016 we approached the National Lottery Heritage Fund to start our mission to replace the building. We were successful in securing £1,098,000 of the £2,166,500 needed. Now we need your help to get over the finish line!
What we'll deliver:
- Building a bespoke new learning centre to accommodate twice as many school and local community groups.
- A new volunteers room for our dedicated group of local volunteers who make Camley Street such a success.
- A new on-site café for visitors to come and enjoy.
- Outside seating area for visitors.
- New outdoor learning area including invertebrate, wildflower, woodland and wetland zones.
Why it's a great idea:
Camley Street Natural Park is an oasis of calm for nature and visitors alike in the densely populated Kings Cross, a valuable space for the local community, which has supported and loved it since day one.
Camley Street will provide a learning centre for visitors and school groups to learn about and enjoy wildlife, building a community of nature-lovers who will care for and protect our wildlife in the years to come.
The building has been designed sustainably with thick insulation and natural lighting, therefore reducing the electricity needed in the space.
With the benefit to wildlife always in our minds, the roof has been designed as a roosting area for bats and birds to nest in and the new outdoor learning area will ensure that the high visitor numbers frequenting these areas do not impact on the more wildlife sensitive areas down the other side of the park.
Steps to get it done:
- Build a lasting and sustainable building
- Fit out the building
- Create and plant up new hedgerow and wildflower area
- Refurbish and set up the new seating area on the barge
- Install outdoor seating area
- Create the new outdoor learning area
If you would like to donate above £100 you will have the opportunity to have a personalised plaque added to our supporter's wall on the outside of the building. The come in either brass or copper and can either be:
A Kingfisher (for donations of £450 and above)
A Dragonfly (for donations of £250 -£449)
A Willow Leaf (for donations of £100 - £249)
Please see the gallery for an image of the plaques.
For more information on this offer, please see: https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/wildlife-plaques
