Only six kilometres from central London, Hampstead Heath is one of the capital’s most popular open spaces. The heath is an extensive site and has been skilfully managed to integrate wildlife and people’s recreation for many years. Habitats in the site include ancient woodlands, heathland, acid grassland, and a number of lakes, ponds and streams. It is owned by the City of London with the exception of the Kenwood Estate, which is owned by English Heritage. Part of Kenwood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.Hampstead Heath won a Green Flag Award again for 20089. Both Camden and Islington Health Walks projects use this site a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see links for details.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Hampstead Heath
Borough: Barnet, Camden
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 316.91 ha
Description
Wildlife
The ancient woodlands contain an exceptional number of old veteran trees. These provide the right type of dead wood habitat for a range of special insects, including the two-spot wood-borer, a nationally rare jewel beetle. The acid grassland on the upper slopes supports heath bedstraw, pill sedge, pignut and other typical plants. The former heathland is being restored in places by planting heather species. Important invertebrates on the heath include the impressive purse-web spider at one of only two known London localities for this species.The ponds and watercourses offer further interesting plants, insects and birds. Rare plants include creeping willow, and lemon-scented and hard ferns. The bog at Kenwood contains several species of bog-mosses as well as water horsetail, which are all very rare in London. In addition, over 300 species of fungi have been recorded on the heath.Kingfishers, reed warblers and all three species of British woodpecker breed here and the Heath's most famous birdwatcher, Bill Oddie, may also be regularly spotted on his local turf. Bats seen foraging here include the declining noctule as well as Daubenton's bat nearer the lakes.Facilities
Information; art gallery; car parks; cycle paths; fishing; horse riding; toilets; outdoor bathing ponds; playgrounds; paddling pool; refreshments; sculptures/monuments; open air events; orienteering courses. Guided walks by Heath & Hampstead Society.
View across Hampstead Heath © Ian Yarham
View towards the City from Parliament Hill © Peter Wakely/English Nature
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