These extensive cemeteries, bisected by Mortlake Road, are among the largest in Richmond borough. Both are still in active use and managed relatively intensively. They have considerable wildlife interest due to their large size and the diversity of plants and animals they support.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
North Sheen and Mortlake Cemeteries
Borough: Richmond upon Thames
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 20.53 ha
Description
Wildlife
Many trees have been planted here, mainly ornamental species such as horse chestnut, hybrid black poplar, cherries, yew and eucalyptus. The grassland supports colourful common wildflowers such as cat's-ear, nipplewort, black medick and germander speedwell. On the graves, stonecrops occur - providing a blaze of yellow or white when in flower. Several species in the grasslands have escaped from their original plantings on graves and include some which are rare in the wild in London, such as garden pansy and mossy saxifrage.The most interesting spot botanically is in the northeast of the site, where there is a large area without graves. The grassland here has an abundance of legumes such as common vetch and clovers, including several patches of hare's-foot clover. Just to the north of this is an area of hard standing with a colourful wasteland community around the edges.The mixture of grassland with trees and shrubs provides ideal habitat for several bird species such as green woodpecker, magpie, mistle thrush, starling and jackdaw.Facilities
sculptures/ monuments.
Mistle thrush © Susy Hogarth
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