Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

The West London Shooting Grounds support a mosaic of habitats including several hedges, some patches of suckering English elm and a small woodland of oak which is unusual in having a wide age-range of trees. The site is bounded to the west, south and east by a large bank which supports varied semi-natural vegetation including tall flowers, wasteland plants and bare areas kept open by 4x4 vehicle activity. There is also a large pond in the centre with great reedmace on the margins. On the south side of the bank a large strip of relatively undisturbed grassland, tall flowers and bramble scrub provides additional wildlife habitat. Down Barns consists of an overgrown moat surrounding the site of a 13th century manor house. The moat retains some wetland vegetation and the site is managed by the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust to conserve its wildlife interest. Hedges of English elm surround the moat and dense scrub, dominated in places by wild plum, occurs in the centre and the south. The vegetation alongside sections of the moat is cut to reduce shade. Two rare plants, orange foxtail and green hellebore have been recorded here.

Facilities

Historic features