This small woodland nature reserve lies at the northern end of Oak Hill Park. It is believed to be an ancient woodland and was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 1997. It is managed by Barnet Council in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust. Oak Hill Park was first opened to the public in 1933, and won a Green Flag Award in 2006/7 and 2008/9. The reserve can be accessed from Oak Hill Park and Mansfield Avenue.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Oak Hill Wood Local Nature Reserve
Borough: Barnet
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 10.18 ha
Description
Wildlife
The wood's canopy is dominated by oak, hornbeam and ash, with a few horse chestnut trees. A variable shrub layer includes common and Midland hawthorns, field maple and wild service-tree, with locally abundant cherry-laurel. The ground flora includes bluebell, wood speedwell, wood anemone, wood forget-me-not, and wood, remote and pendulous sedges. Breeding birds include tawny owl, nuthatch, treecreeper, stock dove, blackcap and chiffchaff. A small stream flows through the wood on its way to join the Pymme's Brook. A meadow alongside the wood contains common wildflowers such as lady's bedstraw, common knapweed, lesser stitchwort and bird's-foot-trefoil. Good numbers of common butterflies occur here, including large, small and Essex skippers, as well as gatekeeper and common blue. Several bat species can be seen on the site, and bat-boxes area mounted on some of the trees.Facilities
Information (on signs); car parking; cafe; toilets; playgrounds; Oak Hill park is the venue for the East Barnet Festival.
Oak Hill Woods Nature Reserve © Mathew Frith
A woodland scene at Oak Hill Woods LNR © Ann Brown
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