About the Beverley Brook
The Beverley Brook is an urban river flowing through south west London. Its name comes from “Beaver’s Ley”, meaning a place where beavers rest, a reminder that this river was once home to this important native species.
The river is nine miles long and has two tributaries, the Pyl Brook and the East Pyl. Its headwaters would originally have risen from the natural chalk springs of the North Downs. Today, the Beverley Brook rises in Cuddington Park in Stoneleigh before flowing north through Worcester Park, New Malden, Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. It joins the River Thames at Barnes.
You can walk much of the river by following the Beverley Brook walk, which is a great way to explore the river, its surrounding habitats and the green spaces it connects.
Why the Beverley Brook matters
The Beverley Brook flows through some of London’s most important green spaces, including Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park.
These landscapes include a rich mix of habitats such as acid grassland, heathland, bog and woodland. They support a wide range of wildlife, including fungi, birds, beetles, bats, grasses and wildflowers.
The river also provides an important wildlife corridor through a busy urban landscape, helping connect habitats and giving local communities space to enjoy nature close to home.
Recent restoration work along the Beverley Brook has helped create a more natural and varied flow, improve riverside habitats and create cleaner gravels for fish.
Invertebrate survey along the Beverley Brook at Richmond Park © South East Rivers Trust
Challenges facing the Beverley Brook
Like many urban rivers, the Beverley Brook faces pressures from pollution, habitat loss, flooding, drought and impacts on fisheries.
These challenges affect water quality, wildlife and the river’s ability to function naturally. By working across the whole catchment, we can help restore habitats, improve river health and make the Beverley Brook more resilient for the future.
Our work on the Beverley Brook
We host the Beverley Brook Catchment Partnership, bringing together organisations and stakeholders who can help improve the health of the river.
Our work across the catchment includes restoring river habitats, improving river flow, supporting fish and wildlife, tackling pollution and helping communities connect with their local river.
Discover the Beverley Brook Catchment Partnership
We host the Beverley Brook Catchment Partnership, bringing together organisations and stakeholders to help the river thrive again. Visit the Partnership website to learn more about the Beverley Brook, the challenges it faces and how partners are working to restore it for people and wildlife.
