Forster Memorial Park is a popular public park off Whitefoot Lane. It is unusual in that the central area of grassland is surrounded by a ring of ancient woodland, which provides peace and tranquillity in a heavily urbanised area. This park was originally part woodland, part fields. It was owned by the Forster family. In 1919 Lord Forster, a local resident and governor general of Australia between 1920 and 1925, made a gift of part of his estate as a memorial to his two sons, Alfred and John, who were both killed during the First World War.

In 2022, the RHS partnered with the NHS trust at University Hospital Lewisham to co-create its first wellbeing garden for hospital staff affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of the project was to create a vital hub for NHS staff, patients and the wider community to come together and connect through nature.

Mending and upcycling workshops

BioBuild make beautifully constructed, low carbon, sustainable garden rooms. They are built almost entirely of plant based materials using the revolutionary ADEPT® system from Natural Building Systems. The building uses hemp and wood fibre as insulation materials to create a low embodied carbon structure with which is both breathable and well insulated.

It includes: bike maintenance and repair sessions, cycle buddy scheme, Local Safe Routes in the Lewisham area.

The Gleaning Pantry is a social supermarket in Downham run by Downham Aid in partnership with Brook Lane Community Church. The project provides affordable food and household goods to residents in Downham and surrounding areas of Lewisham and Bromley, helping to prevent and relieve poverty. Food is sourced from supermarket surplus, FareShare donations and local community contributions, allowing households on low incomes or means-tested benefits to access essential supplies at reduced cost. The initiative grew out of Downham Mutual Aid, which was established in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown and later formalised as the unincorporated association Downham Aid in 2023. In addition to food support, the project aims to assist people facing financial hardship, ill health, disability or other disadvantage, helping strengthen community support networks in the area.

Pepys Social Supermarket is a community food project run by 2000 Community Action Centre for residents within the SE8 catchment area. The project operates as a membership-based social supermarket, helping local households access affordable groceries while supporting community wellbeing. Members pay £3.50 per week and can select a basket of food with an approximate retail value of £25. Membership forms are available at the centre or through the organisation’s website.

Peckham Pantry is a community food project run by the charity Pecan in Peckham, south east London. The pantry operates as a membership-based social supermarket, where members pay a small weekly fee to choose groceries worth significantly more than the membership cost. The project helps local residents access affordable food while also offering support services, advice and opportunities that strengthen community wellbeing.

WDCFplus (Whitefoot and Downham Community Food Plus) is a volunteer-led community organisation in the Whitefoot and Downham area of Lewisham, established in 2011 to help alleviate food poverty and strengthen community support networks. The project provides food provision programmes for families in need while also promoting healthy living, building community connections and developing partnerships with local services. WDCFplus supports around 140 families each week, offering short-term food and support programmes typically lasting six weeks to six months, alongside referrals to partner organisations that provide services such as debt advice, housing support and wellbeing guidance. The initiative is run largely by community volunteers, helping residents access practical support while building confidence, skills and local connections.

Evelyn Community Store is a community-run grocery shop in Deptford, Lewisham, providing affordable food and essential goods for local residents. Alongside groceries, the store supports the community through advice, activities and initiatives aimed at tackling food insecurity and strengthening neighbourhood connections.

St Peter’s Brockley is an Anglican parish church in Brockley, Lewisham, that serves as a place of worship and a community hub for local residents. Alongside regular services, the church hosts a variety of community activities, events and groups that support connection, wellbeing and neighbourhood engagement. The church also runs a social supermarket for people living in SE4, open Wednesdays from 12 pm to 2 pm at Wickham Road, Brockley SE4 1LT. For a £3 weekly membership, members can choose enough groceries for a week, with dietary needs catered for. Shopping appointments can be requested through the website, and delivery may be available in some circumstances.

St Mary’s Community Garden (Lewisham Parish) is a small community garden at St Mary’s Church in Lewisham where volunteers grow plants, vegetables and flowers while creating a welcoming green space for local residents. The garden supports biodiversity, food growing and community involvement through shared gardening and outdoor activities.