Bentley Priory Open Space is actually a collection of woodland, extensive grassland, ponds and a lake. The most important habitat is the grassland, which is one of the best examples of traditionally managed, uncultivated pasture in London supporting a rich collection of plants. The grass is kept short by grazing cattle and rabbits. The main trees in the woodland areas (some of which is ancient) are oak and hornbeam with some hawthorn, holly and silver birch. There are also several wild service-trees.In addition to the woodland, scrub and grassland, other habitats include wetland areas at Summerhouse Lake, Boot Pond and several streams.The site is a Local Nature Reserve maintained by the volunteers of Harrow Heritage Trust. The majority of the woodland and grassland is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest.Harrow Healthwalks’ project uses this site – a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Bentley Priory Open Space
Borough: Harrow
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 83.71 ha
Description
Wildlife
The site contains a wide variety of animal and plant life, much of it locally uncommon.Grassland plants include pepper-saxifrage, adder's-tongue fern, betony and devil's-bit scabious. Damper areas support sneezewort, great burnet, ragged-robin and square-stemmed St John's-wort. Pond margins and marshes support great tussock and cyperus sedges, imperforate St John's-wort and tufted forget-me-not. Scrub supports several regionally scarce rose species. Woodland plants include greater burnet-saxifrage and soft shield-fern.The diverse breeding bird community includes several declining species such as hawfinch, spotted flycatcher, yellowhammer and linnet, while the old pasture contains many ant-hills which are very attractive to green woodpeckers.Facilities
Information; grazing animals; nature trails. Walks and working parties are organised by the Harrow Heritage Trust.
Coppiced hornbeam at Bentley Priory © Mike Waite
Longhorn cattle grazing at Bentley Priory © Peter Wakely/English Nature
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