Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

The northern section has recently been re-landscaped, with a new pond fringed with native and exotic wetland plants. A good range of species have established including pendulous sedge, flowering rush, water lilies, winter heliotrope and figwort. Surrounding the pond are tall herbs including red campion, alexanders and cow parsley, and a newly planted hawthorn. Adjacent grassland is managed less intensively and allowed to flower. This area is likely to be of value to dragonflies, damselflies and other insects, and the aquatic habitat for common amphibians. This park has many large trees. Among the more notable trees are a surprising number of hornbeams; while a common part of ancient woods in the area, hornbeam is not often found planted in parks. The exotic trees include fine specimens of Indian bean-tree, narrow-leaved ash, honey locust and maidenhair tree. There are also many London plane and lime. Of particular interest are a number of Fontainebleau service-trees, a species only occasionally planted elsewhere in London. Both sections of the park contain densely planted shrubberies, particularly at the edges. These support a good range of common birds, including the declining song thrush.

Facilities

Information; toilets, including disabled; sports amenities; play area; refreshments