Oxhey Lane Farm is set in traditional farmland with comparatively herb-rich pastures and thick, species-rich hedgerows. Also included within the site is Sylvia Avenue Open Space, an area of woodland to the west of the railway cutting (the only part of the site with public access). The London Loop passes through Sylvia Avenue Open Space.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Oxhey Lane Fields and Railway Cuttings
Borough: Harrow
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 31.48 ha
Description
Wildlife
The fields on the farm are dominated either by meadow barley or, in damper places, tufted hair-grass. Due to low-intensity horse-grazing and over 50 years without chemical treatment, the grassland has retained much of its botanical diversity, including sneezewort and fleabane. There is a strong population of crow-garlic in the drier fields. The hedges appear to be ancient, and offer excellent habitat for a wide range of animals. There are numerous mature trees, especially large emergent oaks. The railway cutting contains a mixture of developing woodland, scrub and grassland. To the west of the railway, Sylvia Avenue Open Space is an area of secondary woodland and scrub of hawthorn and blackthorn. Parts of the woodland are seasonally wetter however, and dominated by willows.Facilities
Waymarked walking route
Common fleabane © Jan Hewlett
Sneezewort © Mike Waite
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