Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Arnos Park
Borough: Enfield
Grade: Borough Grade I
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 17.52 ha

Description

Arnos Park is all that remains of the once vast Arnos Grove Estate, sold in 1928 for housing development. The park was bought by the local authority at that time and today features a range of valuable wildlife habitats, with the Pymme’s Brook flowing throughout its length. The original estate house, built in the 18th century, still stands on Cannon Hill.

Wildlife

The park's woodland is believed to be ancient in origin, with a varied canopy including sessile oak and wild service tree (both uncommon in London), as well as hornbeam, wild cherry and hazel. At ground-level are the woodland flowers red campion, bluebell, honeysuckle, wood anemone and the elegant grass, wood millet.Marsh yellow-cress and the regionally scarce fiddle dock both grow near the Pymme's Brook, where pendulous sedge may also be found. Further to the west an area of damp amenity grassland retains marsh foxtail and cuckoo-flower.Birds present here include grey heron and grey wagtail on the Pymme's Brook, and mistle thrush, blackcap and willow warbler in the park.

Facilities

Playground and toilets. The Pymme's Brook Trail passes through the park.
Wild service-tree © Mike Waite

Wild service-tree © Mike Waite

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