This large common still retains some of its original acid grassland, however the majority of the area consists of regenerated woodland and scrub which has reclaimed the open areas. There are also several damp hollows. Also within the site Old Barnes Cemetery contains a mix of rough grassland and woodland. Much of the site is a Local Nature Reserve. There is free public access to the site and voluntary workdays are regularly held by Barnes Common Limited (previously known as the Friends of Barnes Common).
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Barnes Common
Borough: Richmond upon Thames
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 52.13 ha
Description
Wildlife
The acid grassland contains characteristic plants such as the London rarities creeping willow mat-grass, Bird's-foot, heath bedstraw and slender St John's-wort, as well as a small population of heather. Scrub is dominated by gorse and broom while the damp hollows are dominated by purple moor-grass or damp willow woodland. Burnet rose grows here as the only naturally occurring population in London. The woodland is dominated by oak and birch, with many planted and naturalised species. Most of the woodland is fairly recent, but there are several ancient oak pollards. The breeding bird population includes green woodpecker and lesser whitethroat. Robins, wrens, tits and thrushes all live on the common. Insects include the nationally scarce white-letter hairstreak butterfly.Facilities
Information panels; voluntary workdays; waymarked walking routes
No photo yet available for this site
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