The Wildlife of Hampstead Heath

By Monica Frank


If you are looking for a place that combines the wonders of London and the calmness of the countryside, look no further than Hampstead Heath. Just six kilometres from the famous Trafalgar Square, you will be greeted with beautiful wildlife, city thrills and lots to do. Join the millions of people who experience Hampstead Heath with a choice of pools, a zoo and plenty to do with the children when you visit.

Biodiversity Action Plan

The presence of wildlife within Hampstead Heath isn't just important locally but nationally. The UK Biodiversity Action plan has associated a number of species which have been spotted within the boundaries of Hampstead Heath and aims to not only maintain but to increase on this incredible feature to extend its status.

Sporting London

Hampstead Heath has the luxury of wide open spaces and has used this well to incorporate many sports facilities, something which is vital when other more closely populated boroughs cannot accommodate this.

Leisure Pools

If you are a keen swimmer one of the 'must visits' for Hampstead Heath is one of its many open air swimming ponds. With both single-sex and mixed baths, plus the Parliament Hill Lido, visitors will be spoiled for choice no matter what the weather.

Landscape

Hampstead Heath is home to several different types of land such as grassland, ponds, wetlands and woodland. What once was agricultural in theme has now developed into a mixed landscape however some of the original heath can still be seen.

Grass

Hampstead Heath gets its name from the rare heathlands which still grow in the area although it is a diminishing landscape. It is important to maintain and look after these areas of grassland so that the borough can continue to feature its wildlife.

Trees

It is hard to imagine that London is the home to over 800 species of tree, let alone that this many can be found just in Hampstead Heath. The borough even features some rare tree breeds such as the Midland Hawthorn and the Wild Service Tree.

Fungi

Similar to the variety of trees, the borough also features over 350 species of fungi. These include some of the rarer breeds found in Britain such as the Broad Leaved Helleborine and the Bracket Fungus.

Butterflies and More

The Purple Hairstreak Butterfly can be found as one of the twenty three types of butterfly at Hampstead Heath, the home of some of the species' breeding colonies. There are also several breeds of spider and many varieties of the dragonfly and damselfly, outnumbering the species in the bordering county of Hertfordshire.

Birds

Maintaining the beauty of the air and the hedgerows are the vast array of species of birds which can be identified throughout Hampstead Heath. The Hobby, the Gadwell, Whitethroat and the Garden Warbler are to name but a few of these delightful specimens.

Animals

Although London is not known for its wide range of animals, there are still many which can be seen in Hampstead Heath. From the harmless Grass Snake to the gentle deer, there are a variety of different mammals and reptiles that are found in Hampstead Heath that are rarely found anywhere else near to London.




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