The extensive playing fields to the south of the London Wetland Centre contain several wildlife features, including a lake, a small woodland and an area of grassland and scrub.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Barn Elms Playing Fields
Borough: Richmond upon Thames
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 3.88 ha
Description
Wildlife
The lake is used for fishing, but is managed by the Barnes and Mortlake Angling Society with nature conservation very much in mind. Its edges and small islands support abundant wetland vegetation. This includes galingale, great reedmace, reed canary-grass, common reed, soft yellow iris, pendulous sedge, greater pond-sedge and purple loosestrife.South of the lake is an area of woodland, which has developed on the site of an old garden. The mix of trees and shrubs here is overshadowed by an enormous London plane, one of the oldest in Britain. Its girth at chest height is an incredible 10 metres.Surrounding the woodland, and providing a link to the Beverley Brook to the south, is an area of rough unmanaged grassland with scattered scrub.Facilities
Playground; toilets; fishing.
View of Barnes angling lakes © Mike Waite
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