The Parkland Walk is a beautiful woodland walk in the midst of suburban north London, stretching for 4.5 miles from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace on the line of the original Victorian railway. It was saved from development by a vigorous local campaign and opened as linear ecology park in 1984.This is part of a composite Metropolitan site, together with Highgate and Queen’s Woods. Parkland Walk is managed as a Local Nature Reserve by the neighbouring Haringey and Islington Councils.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Parkland Walk, Queen's Wood and Highgate Wood
Borough: Haringey, Islington
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 70.52 ha
Description
Wildlife
Parkland Walk consists mainly of birch and sycamore woodland regenerated on the cutting sides and embankments of the old railway line. Oak, ash, hawthorn and holly also grow here. There are also more open areas of scrub and grassland, where gorse and spindle occur. Over 200 wildflowers have been recorded on the site, including uncommon species such as great horsetail, ramsons, small toadflax, common spotted-orchid, wormwood and common broomrape. Damper areas support yellow flag-iris, water mint and great willowherb. Further plants grow out of the brickwork of old tunnel and platform structures including the rare fern, black spleenwort. Breeding birds include tawny owl, great spotted woodpecker and spotted flycatcher, while hedgehogs and foxes can often be seen. Even muntjac deer are sighted occasionally.Facilities
Information (on signs); adventure playground and climbing wall. Parkland Walk is part of the Capital Ring Walk.
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