Remnants of an ancient forest
Highgate Wood
Highgate Wood is one of the remaining fragments of the forest whcih once covered much of London, Hertfordshire and Essex.
An oasis for wildlife
At least 30 species of birds breed regularly in Highgate Wood. Bats roost in the oak trees. Surveys identified over 260 species of moths in the wood between 1985 and 2002.
The plant life is diverse too. Oak, hornbeam and holly are among the more common trees among the 50 or so species of trees and shrubs found in the woods.
The many visitors to the woods mean that the low growing plants suffer under foot. For this reason some areas of the wood are fenced to allow the flora to regenerate.
Nearly 1000 invertebrates have been identified in the woods. Older trees are protected and dead wood left lying about to provide habitats for beetles and other invertebrates.
Fungi are abundant and some of them are rare.
Submitted by: Andrew Hunt, 10 February 2008
