Russia Dock Woodland
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Russia Dock Woodland is a long narrow park in Rotherhithe, London, created by the infilling of one of the former Surrey Commercial Docks. The former Russia Dock was originally used for the importing of timber from Norway, Russia and Sweden. The soft wood, known as "deal wood", was mostly used for paper for prints and for furniture.
Following the closure of the docks in the 1970s, the area was redeveloped by the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC). Russia Dock was infilled (save for a thin 'stream' through the woodland) and planted as a 34.5 acre woodland in 1980. It still contains surviving dock features including the retaining wall capstones, depth gauges, bollards, mooring chains and tracks. In 1985 the LDDC added an artificial hill, Stave Hill, to the west edge of the park, using waste material and rubble. A relief map of the former docks in cast bronze by Michael Rizzello stands at the top of the hill.
