The Muddie’ is large city farm and nature area at the southern end of the Isle of Dogs, created on previously derelict land. It provides important exposure to nature and farm animals for an area of London far removed from the countryside or wildlife-rich open space. Extremely popular with local people, the Mudchute is an important resource for environmental education. The farm is a Local Nature Reserve and certified Rare Breeds Centre, and maintains important populations of rare domestic animals. Tower Hamlets Healthy Walkers project has used this site as part of a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Mudchute Farm and Park
Borough: Tower Hamlets
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 13.2 ha
Description
Wildlife
Habitats include pastures, scrub, planted woodland and various wetlands. These support a surprising array of native and non-native plants.It is famous among botanists for some of its unusual naturalised plants, such as large-flowered nipplewort and Turkish iris, which are rare in the wild in Britain. Hound's-tongue, a plant of chalk grassland rare in London, is frequent in some of the paddocks. Breeding birds include blackcap, chiffchaff, whitethroat and great spotted woodpecker. The site is also an important haven for insects and other animals, including a large population of smooth newts.Facilities
Information (education centre, with a full-time education officer); toilets; cafe; horse riding; shop; nature trail
View of Mudchute Park © Edwin Van Ek
View of Mudchute Park © Edwin Van Ek
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