Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Barnsbury Wood
Borough: Islington
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Access by prior arrangement
Area: 0.35 ha

Description

Barnsbury Wood is London’s smallest Local Nature Reserve, although it is the largest area of woodland in Islington borough. It is surrounded on every side by the residential Victorian villas of Thornhill Square, presumably left as open space when the area was originally developed in 1850.It is open on Tuesday afternoons, 2pm-4pm. A number of additional open days are held throughout the year.

Wildlife

The wood is composed mostly of sycamore and ash trees, all relatively young. A dense understorey of elder, privet and blackthorn provides valuable cover for common breeding birds such as robin, blackbird and wren.An ongoing programme of tree and shrub planting has successfully introduced a greater variety of native species. Woodland wildflowers have also been planted and the wood now features an impressive display of bluebells in the spring.

Facilities

No information available
Bluebells © Meg Game

Bluebells © Meg Game

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