One of only two remaining stretches of natural riverbank on the River Thames in London (Syon Tide Meadow is the other), this Local Nature Reserve is made up of a succession of habitats from its outermost shingle foreshore, through to boggy alder-willow woodland and drier willow woodland higher up the bank. Twice a day and to what height governed largely by the seasons, the hollow is submerged by the tide. Duke’s Hollow can be approached along the riverside footpath, from Barnes Railway Bridge, or by path along the railway embankment from Chiswick station.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Duke's Hollow
Borough: Hounslow
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 0.27 ha
Description
Wildlife
The foreshore supports rush species, hemlock water-dropwort and the uncommon marsh ragwort. The naturalised sweet-flag is also here, with purple loosestrife, common club-rush, hemp agrimony and a London rarity, pink water-speedwell higher up.By way of birds, Duke's Hollow once had roosting tree sparrows, but these have long since gone (the species has declined considerably all over the country). Whitethroat still breeds here however, along with wren and dunnock. Grey herons are often seen fishing on the foreshore.Other animal life includes two extremely rare species of snails, the Thames or two-lipped door snail and the German hairy snail see the links for more on both of these.Facilities
A viewing platform is open daily.
Two-lipped door-snail © John Archer
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