[2] The name is derived from the former presence in the river of the European beaver (Castor fiber), a species extinct in Britain since the sixteenth century.

[5] Beverley Brook rises at the top of a hill in a shady area at Cuddington Recreation Ground in Worcester Park then flows north in an approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) long culvert under several residential streets and the A2043 road, emerging into an open culvert across the 4 lane interchange from The Brook pub.

Along this stretch the lightly managed woodland of the common rises to the east of the brook, with the A3 some distance to the west.

Towards the south (upstream) end of the common, Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads nature reserve lies a few metres east of the stream.

The park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve and was first enclosed by Charles I in 1637.

Despite the Thames being under 500 metres (1,600 ft) to the north-west along this stretch, the brook here turns east and heads across the base of the peninsular formed by the larger river's meander around Barnes.

Since some pipe redirection enabling the removing of the works and the introduction of improved treatment methods in 1998, the range of wildlife species in the river has steadily increased.

[citation needed] At Wimbledon Common, Beverley Brook has banks reinforced with wooden "toe-boarding", which prevents use by water voles,[14] and there is scope for further such improvements.

[clarification needed] Beverley Brook is a regular character in Ben Aaronovitch's series of urban fantasy police procedural novels Rivers of London.