Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

St Botolph's Bishopsgate Church Grounds
Borough: City of London
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 0.27 ha

Description

St Botolph’s is a charming and mature garden, spacious by City standards, with plenty of trees, wide lawns, hedges and substantial areas of tall shrubbery. The garden has an interesting history, having been converted from a rundown graveyard to a public garden by an enterprising Victorian vicar; initially this featured a bird collection including peacocks and storks. There is unrestricted access to the church grounds and the church is open on Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.30pm.

Wildlife

Trees at this site include London plane, common lime, rowan, ornamental cherry, and Swedish whitebeam. Daisies grow in the lawns, male fern on one of the tombstones and liverworts on damp stonework. High hedges surround the tennis court, and an enclosed area of shrubbery near the church hall provides additional undisturbed habitat for birds. There is also a small ornamental pool. Breeding birds include blackbird and blue tit.

Facilities

Tennis court
St Botolph's Church Grounds © Corporation of London

St Botolph’s Church Grounds © Corporation of London

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