These two Royal Parks together form the largest area of open space in central London. Made up of extensive areas of parkland intersected by a dense network of footpaths, this site features a large number of trees (Hyde Park alone has over 4000) including many of great age, such as the old sweet chestnuts in Kensington Gardens. Other habitats include a small area of acid grassland, a recently-established wildflower meadow area in Hyde Park and of course, the Serpentine lake.Hyde Park won a Green Flag Award for the first time, and Kensington Gardens won one again for 20089.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Borough: Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 249.65 ha
Description
Wildlife
The acid grassland supports the locally uncommon plants harebell, heather, early hair-grass and slender trefoil. The wildflower meadow area in Hyde Park has been sown with a variety of plants, including the nationally rare great pignut. The mature trees are of value to both birds and insects, and even support two nationally rare beetles.The Serpentine (especially at the bird sanctuary on the Long Water) supports important breeding numbers of common waterfowl species, seasonally swelled by numerous winter visitors. These include great crested grebe, pochard and tufted duck. The Round Pond is home to three-spined sticklebacks, roach, gudgeon and eels. Breeding woodland birds include coal tit, great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper and occasionally spotted flycatcher. Green woodpeckers nest in Kensington Gardens - a rare occurrence in Central London.Facilities
Info. signage and The Lookout education centre; cafés, restaurants; playgrounds (incl. Princess Diana memorial playground); toilets; boat hire; sculptures/monuments (tours of the Albert Memorial available); horse riding; Princess Diana memorial fountain.
View of Kensington Gardens © Jan Hewlett
The created wildflower meadow at Hyde Park © Jan Hewlett
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