Hackney is known as a creative and cultural hub, with great places to eat and drink, festivals and markets, but there’s more to the area than meets the eye. Nestled next to Finsbury Park, just a few minutes’ walk from Manor Tube station is Woodberry Down, a bustling community which is home to 15 acres of landscaped parkland and 42 acres of open water including a water sports and open water swimming reservoir and the Woodberry Wetlands, a dedicated nature reserve cared for by the London Wildlife Trust.
This tranquil green oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the city isn’t just somewhere people can visit to make the most of summer in the city, but somewhere people can call home as Berkeley is delivering new homes at its Woodberry Down development, providing the ideal base to make the most of what this North East London hotspot has to offer.
Having spent so much time indoors this past year, it’s understandable that getting out and about is now a priority for most. The West Reservoir at Woodberry Down is open all-year round for outdoor swimming – you’ll be brave to take a dip in January! – and has a range of activities available including sailing, canoeing and kayaking.
If you want to get into nature, the Woodberry Wetlands – which received a visit from Prince William last year for ITV’s ‘A Planet For Us All’ programme – is a thriving hub for wildlife. Home to 13,000 m2 of newly planted reed beds and 550 m2 of new hedgerow, together with wildflower meadows and fruit trees, attracts birds, bees, butterflies and other insects. Berkeley has also installed bat boxes for the six species of bat in the area and nest boxes for the black redstart, one of the UK’s rarest birds.
In normal times, events run throughout the year, from Community Feast events and the Hidden River Festival to outdoor screenings of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. There’s also two schools and an academy, as well as a host of other amenities including The Naturalist pub and bar, a health centre, post office and fitness studio on your doorstep.
But, these homes are never too far from all of the other amazing things Hackney has to offer, as well as the rest of the city; Woodberry Down is a seven-minute walk from Manor House underground station, which is in Zone 2 on the Piccadilly Line, providing access to King’s Cross in eight minutes, Green Park in 15 minutes, Bank in 22 minutes and Knightsbridge in 23 minutes.
For anyone considering a move to this pocket of Hackney, Berkeley has just launched Hawker House, a new collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments all with a balcony or terrace and many with views over the beautiful natural surroundings.
Inside, the apartments are designed to Berkeley’s impeccable standards. The open-plan layout uses the space with great imagination to provide plenty of room in which to live, work, relax and entertain.
Residents enjoy the convenience and security of a concierge service as well as a residents’ lounge. The cycle storage is provided on the ground floor of the building.
Prices start from £495,500 at Hawker House – if you’d like to take a look around Woodberry Down and view one of the showhomes, call Berkeley on 0203 944 7729 or visit the Woodberry Down website.