Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

Forty Hall Estate is a large section of relict countryside, apparently inhabited since the 13th Century, with a 17th Century manor house. The site includes important grassland communities of London-wide significance, hedgerows, scrub, secondary woodland and a number of pedunculate oaks of considerable antiquity. The most important meadow areas are covered in a mosaic of acid and unimproved grassland. One meadow includes a large population of harebell (Campanula rotundifolia), as well as pignut (Conopodium majus), early hair-grass (Aira praecox), burnet-saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga), cuckoo-flower (Cardamine pratensis) and bird's-foot (Ornithopus perpusillus), all of which are scarce in Enfield. Additionally, there is a significant population of heath woodrush (Luzula multiflora), which is rare in Greater London. An avenue of ancient trees contains mistletoe (Viscum album), a London Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. Musk-mallow (Malva moschata), another locally scarce plant, occurs in a meadow to the west of Bull's Cross. The invertebrate fauna appears to be important, especially in the ancient parkland trees; several nationally scarce species including the jewel beetle (Agrilus pannonicus) are found here. The site contains a diverse range of breeding birds, including song thrush, blackcap and garden warbler. There is an area of largely unmanaged old secondary woodland to the north of the site with significant numbers of ivy-clad trees, as well as standing and lying dead wood. No less than nine species of bats are known to fly in or near this area, including a possible record of the very uncommon Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus). The stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), a UK BAP species, is also known from this area; it is uncommon in north London. The Turkey Brook here is clean with natural banks and a natural course, and kingfishers probably breed alongside. Some species indicative of ancient woodland are present (and in parts of the adjacent parkland) including bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa). Ponds within the site support the specially-protected great crested newt. There is full public access to the parkland but access elsewhere is on footpaths only. The site is managed by Capel Manor College. “Get Walking, Get Talking” project uses this site - A Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.

Facilities

Art gallery; Bowling green;Car parking;Dog litter bins/area;Fishing;Litter bins;Play for 7-13;Refreshments;Sculptures/monuments;Seats;Toilets;Water play area;Waymarked walking route