Fryent Country Park is an extensive area of traditional Middlesex countryside, which is managed primarily for nature conservation and set within the urban fabric of north-west London. Although it is situated only 15km north-west of central London, it features uncultivated hay meadows divided by a network of fine old hedges and several small pockets of woodland (part of a surviving relict by the master English landscape gardener Humphry Repton). A number of old and recently constructed field ponds add to the site’s habitat diversity.A great deal of the site is being enhanced and managed by the volunteers of Barn Hill Conservation Group. Much of the Park is a Local Nature Reserve.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Fryent Country Park
Borough: Brent
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 107.87 ha
Description
Wildlife
The hay meadows contain abundant meadow brome, an unusual feature in London, and support a substantial population of the locally rare great burnet. Other plants of note include adder's-tongue fern, sneezewort, pepper-saxifrage and devil's-bit scabious. The meadows are managed organically and have the Soil Association Organic Standard.The hedges on the site support the nationally scarce narrow-leaved bittercress at its only London locality.Oak and elm are the main tree species in the pockets of woodland, where the purple hairsteak butterfly can be seen.Facilities
Information (on signs); car parking; horse riding; waymarked walking route..
Narrow-leaved bittercress © Mike Waite
Oak tree at Barn Hill in winter © Leslie Williams
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