Report: Earth Science Week Geotrail: Geology & Ecology on Keston Common, Bromley
Yesterday, 17th October 2026, the sun shone for the well-attended walk led by London Geodiversity Partnership and London Natural History Society to Keston Common in the London Borough of Bromley. The Common exposes the Harwich Formation ad the underlying Lambeth Group. The Blackheath Beds of the Harwich Formation have been quarried on the common and afford decent exposures in abandoned gravel pits. The underlying strata have contributed to an important ecosystem of heathland and peat bog. Keston Bog, also known as Darwin’s Bog is one of only two places in London where sphagnum moss grows. Charles Darwin lived a few miles south of Keston at Downe and took many walks, studying the flora and fauna of this landscape.
Here are some photos of the day, taken by Laurie Baker and Ruth Siddall.
And here are some of the plants and fungi that we found. Photos by Ruth Siddall.
Find out more about Keston Common
Keston Common Nature Trail: Exploring in Darwin’s Footsteps
For more on London’s bogs read Peaty Finders by London Wildlife Trust – https://live-twt-d8-london.pantheonsite.io/sites/default/files/2019-05/peaty_finders_-_discovering_londons_peat_bogs_2015.pdf
Many thanks Alister! This is a very useful document.