Braeburn Park

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Bexley, United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox park

| name = Bradlaugh Fields

| photo = Wansunt Pit.JPG

| photo_caption = Wansunt Pit

| type = Nature reserve

| grid_ref_UK = TQ 506 739

| location = London Borough of Bexley

| area = 22.3 hectares

| manager = London Wildlife Trust

}}

Braeburn Park is a {{convert|22.3|hectare|acre|adj=on}} nature reserve in Crayford in the London Borough of Bexley. It is managed by the London Wildlife Trust,{{cite web|url=http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/reserves/braeburn-park |title=Braeburn Park |publisher=London Wildlife Trust|access-date= 19 January 2016}} and includes Wansunt Pit, a {{convert|1.9|hectare|acre|adj=on}} geological Site of Special Scientific Interest.{{cite web|url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=13119&p=0|title=SINC Review|author=London Wildlife Trust|publisher=London Borough of Bexley|page=116|access-date=18 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125234350/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=13119&p=0|archive-date=25 January 2016}}

The area was once used for market gardening; there were orchards, and the Old Crayford Gun Club had been based here. Later, like much of the nearby Dartford Heath, the site was extensively quarried (notably for sand), until it was finally infilled and abandoned in the 1980s; after which time it gradually reverted to nature.{{cite web|title=Braeburn Park|url=http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/reserves/braeburn-park|website=London Wildlife Trust|access-date=18 December 2017}} Habitats now include ruderal scrub, grassland and woodland. There is a wide variety of invertebrates, including rare ones such as skipping flower beetles and picture-winged flies. There is also a pond, and many common bird species. Reptiles catalogued here include the grass snake, common lizard and slow-worm. There is access to the reserve from Lower Station Road and Galloway Drive, Crayford.

A large housing development called Braeburn Park was built here by Taylor Wimpey in 2000. A promised adjacent 17 hectare nature conservation area was finally added in 2014 thanks to resources and management provided by The Land Trust and London Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|title=Future secured for nature area in housing development|date=19 March 2014 |url=http://www.buildingconstructiondesign.co.uk/news/future-secured-for-nature-area-in-housing-development/|publisher=Building Construction Design|access-date=19 March 2014}}