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Harrow Weald Park and The Hermitage

This site comprises a number of adjacent open spaces, some of them public, others private, which together make up a valuable resource for wildlife and local people.
Squirrels Lake, in the grounds of a private residence, is a large semi-wild lake with a small island, and plenty of emergent and floating vegetation. It is surrounded by rough grassland, scrub and scattered trees, including sessile oak (Quercus petraea) and fruit trees. Adjacent to the lake are horse-grazed meadows with rough grassland and scrub. These can be seen from Harrow Weald Park.
Harrow Weald Park is a former landscaped garden, with some fine specimen trees and areas of secondary woodland and scrub. The considerable amount of dead wood, both standing and fallen, provides valuable habitat for fungi, invertebrates and hole-nesting birds.
Hermitage Wood, in the grounds of a private nursing home, is a small strip of woodland. Beneath its canopy of mostly exotic trees, typical woodland plants such as bugle (Ajuga reptans) and violets (Viola spp.) can be found. South of the wood is extensive rough grassland dominated by tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), mixed with bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) scrub. The combination of woodland and grassland is valuable for invertebrates. Harrow Weald Park is freely accessible.
All Saints Churchyard is an attractive, sheltered churchyard with significant old meadow elements. Managed for wild flowers by a lay-preacher, its grasslands support a notable flora, including grey sedge (Carex divulsa), wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca), barren strawberry (Potentilla sterilis) and meadow saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata), the latter very scarce in London. All Saints Churchyard Extension is a sheltered cemetery plot with hedges, scrub, rough grassland and stonework features
Bentley Day Centre Wood is a medium-sized woodland plot, managed for wildlife by a volunteer warden. Grey willow (Salix cinerea), wild cherry (Prunus avium) and hazel (Corylus avellana) occur in the mixed understorey. This is a former site for violet helleborine (Epipactis purpurea), which is very rare in London, but it has not been recorded here for many years.

Site Type: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Borough: Harrow
Ownership: London Borough of Harrow, Diocese of London and private
Habitats: Acid grassland ; Ancient woodland ; Hedge ; Pond/lake ; Scattered trees ; Scrub ; Secondary woodland ; Semi-improved neutral grassland

Transport: Train: Harrow & Wealdstone, then bus 258 or 340, Hatch End and bus H12
Underground: Harrow & Wealdstone, then bus 258 or 340, Stanmore and bus H12
Buses: 140, 182, 258, 340, H12, H18



Related Links
Harrow Nature Conservation Forum

Bugle (photo: Denis Vickers) Images and Sounds

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