Maryon Park and Gilbert’s Pit SSSI adjoin each other in Charlton and form part of London’s Green Chain. The highest part of the park, Cox's Mount, was a Roman hill fort and used in the 19C to set ship's compasses as they sailed up the Thames. Later becoming sand pits, it became a public park in 1891. In 1966, Maryon Park was used as the location for the park scenes in Michelangelo Antonioni cult British film, Blow Up, starring Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles and David Hemmings.

A comprehensive restoration design for submission to the HLF ‘Parks for People’ programme was developed by Allen Scott to increase the local community’s use, improve access and interpretation and restore the infrastructure and facilities of the park. Clearance of some of the wooded slopes to allow new views and vistas and additional links and routes were proposed as well as the relocation of play areas and a hub for café and toilets. The geological interest of the SSSI was also enhanced for educational use by schools and colleges with new exposures of the strata, viewing points and habitat improvements.

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