Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

East Sheen Cemetery is a well-tended, modern cemetery with a good number and variety of trees. Most of these are quite small, but at least one supports a clump of mistletoe, a rare and declining plant in London. The short-mown turf between the graves contains a few common wildflowers, including sheep's sorrel indicating underlying acidic soils.Richmond Cemetery, immediately to the south, is an older burial ground, dating from the late 19th century. It contains plenty of mature trees, with horse chestnut, ash, lime and false acacia around the edges, and holly and yew scattered throughout. The grassland is much more diverse than that of its neighbour, and includes primrose, oxeye daisy, hairy sedge, hedge bedstraw and meadow saxifrage, the latter scarce in London.The long-abandoned south of Richmond Cemetery comprises a tangle of woodland and scrub variously dominated by oak, sycamore, ash and buddleia. Male fern, Lady fern and enchanter's nightshade grow beneath the trees. A glade in the middle has a rich flora, including bush vetch, smooth tare, greater bird's-foot trefoil and heath groundsel, the latter a scarce plant in London, indicative of acid soils.Pesthouse Common consists of rough grassland, bounded by tall limes and horse chestnuts. Its tall grass supports few wildflowers, but complements the more managed grassland habitats of the cemeteries.

Facilities

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