Editing Blackheath, London (section)

==Geography==
{{wide image|Blackheath Panorama.jpg|1000px|Panorama of the Blackheath heath}}

Blackheath is one of the largest areas of [[common land]] in [[Greater London]], with {{convert|85.58|ha|acre}} of protected commons.<ref name="defra">{{cite web| url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/protected/commons/ | title=Common Land and the Commons Act 2006 | publisher=[[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|Defra]] | date=13 November 2012 | access-date=3 February 2013}}</ref> The heath is managed by Lewisham and Greenwich councils.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/default.aspx |title=Lewisham Council - Local parks - Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831000233/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=31 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Highlights on the Greenwich side include the Long Pond (also known as Folly Pond), close to the main entrance of Greenwich Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/directory_record/3758/blackheath |title=Blackheath - Greenwich |publisher=Royalgreenwich.gov.uk |date=30 April 2012 |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> On the Lewisham side are three ponds, with Hare and Billet pond considered to be the most natural and probably the best wildlife habitat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Ponds.aspx |title=Lewisham Council - Local parks - Ponds on Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703110100/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Ponds.aspx |archive-date=3 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://natureconservationlewisham.co.uk/tag/hare-and-billet-pond/ |title=Hare and Billet Pond |publisher=Nature Conservation Lewisham |date=5 October 2012 |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> Lewisham retains important areas of acid grassland that support locally rare wild plants such as [[Erodium cicutarium|Common stork's bill]], [[Rumex pulcher|Fiddle dock]] and [[Medicago arabica|Spotted medick]]. Key areas are to the east of Granville Park between South Row and Morden Row and on the cricket field east of Golfers Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Grasslands.aspx |title=Lewisham Council - Local Parks - Grasslands on Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831194644/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Grasslands.aspx |archive-date=31 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="lewisham1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Habitat-changes-and-ecological-decline-.aspx |title=Lewisham Council - Local parks - Habitat changes and ecological decline of Blackheath |publisher=Lewisham.gov.uk |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831194602/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/blackheath/Pages/Habitat-changes-and-ecological-decline-.aspx |archive-date=31 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The heath's habitat was well known to early botanists. In the 18th century [[Carl Linnaeus]] reportedly fell to his knees to thank God when he first saw the gorse growing there. However, this disputed account is more often attributed to [[Putney Heath]].<ref name="Fries">{{cite book|last1=Fries|first1=Theodor Magnus|last2=Jackson|first2=Benjamin Daydon|title=Linnaeus|date=2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781108037235|page=158}}</ref> This environment supported both the flora and fauna of wild grassland. In 1859, Greenwich Natural History Society recorded a wide list of animal species, including [[natterjack toad]]s, [[hare]]s, [[common lizard]]s, [[bat]]s, [[quail]], [[ring ouzel]] and [[nightingale]]. Today, bats remain and migrating ring ouzel may occasionally be seen in spring.<ref name="lewisham1"/>

Extensive mineral extraction in the 18th and early 19th centuries, when gravel, sand and chalk were extracted left the heath transformed. This left large pits in many parts. In 1945 pits were filled with bomb rubble from [[World War II]], then covered with topsoil and seeded with [[Ryegrass|rye grass]], leaving Vanbrugh Pits to the north-east side and Eliot Pits in the south-west. Infilled areas stand out, especially in late spring and early summer, from their deep-green rye grass.<ref name="lewisham1"/>

{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas'''
|Centre    = Blackheath
|North     = [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]]
|Northeast = [[Charlton, London|Charlton]]
|East      = [[Shooters Hill]]
|Southeast = [[Kidbrooke]]
|South     = [[Lee, London|Lee Green]]
|Southwest = Lewisham
|West      = [[Lewisham]]
|Northwest = [[Deptford]]
}}