Originally part of the ancient Forest of Middlesex, Highgate
Wood in Haringey covers some 28 hectares (70 acres) and came into
the City of London's care in 1886.
At the ceremony, the Lord Mayor declared Highgate Wood 'an open
space for ever', something for which subsequent generations of
users - both human and animal - have had cause to be grateful.
Download the Highgate Wood Diary of Events
2012 (1mb)
What's new in Highgate Wood (3mb)
Download information leaflet (770kb)
Download the Highgate Wood Management
Plan (9.3mb)
Tree Top News 2011 (6.5mb)
Predominantly an oak and hornbeam
wood, Highgate Wood is also home to numerous other
tree and shrub species which have self-seeded there. Small areas
are fenced off to encourage natural regeneration. The bird
population has increased dramatically in recent years, both in
types and numbers - some 70 different species have been recorded,
alongside the foxes, grey squirrels, five species of bat, 180
species of moth, 12 species of butterfly and 80 species of
spider.
As well as a football and cricket field, Highgate Wood offers
visitors a supervised children's playground, a pleasant café and an
information centre with booklets, newsletters and trail guides. For
further information tel 020 8444 6129 or email
highgate.wood@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
Highgate Wood opening times
The wood opens at 7.30am every day of the year. It closes
at sunset which can be as early as 4.30pm in winter and as late as
9.45pm in summer. The precise opening and closing times can be
found on the signs at each entrance to the wood.
How to get to Highgate Wood
Download Highgate Wood map (628kb)
Plan your journey
with the Transport for London journey planner
Barbecues
Please note that barbecues are not allowed in Highgate Wood. In
addition to the obvious fire risk, barbecues cause the grass
beneath them to die, making bare patches in the turf. These bare
patches are unsightly and can become colonised by problematic
species such as thistles.
Charitable status
Highgate Wood is a registered charity (No. 232986).
Any donation, large or small, or legacy in a will would be a gift
that lasts forever, as it will be used to make long-term
improvements in Highgate Wood. Please call 020 7332 3322.
Highgate Wood - have your say!
A website
www.greenstat.org.uk has
been set up to record feedback and provide local residents with the
opportunity to comment on how open spaces nationwide are managed
and maintained. The City of London will be able to access this
information and compare results on Highgate Wood with other
open spaces up and down the country.
We would very much welcome your involvement. Please visit
www.greenstat.org.uk
and click on the London region, where you will then see a
list of organisations – please chose ‘City of London' which is
conveniently located at the very top of the page. You will then be
asked to select whether you wish to comment on the Service provided
by City of London, or to comment on a specific Open Space. If you
select option 2 ‘Park or Open Space' you will be given a list of
City of London open spaces to comment on – please select ‘Highgate
Wood' from this list and you will then be taken through an online
survey.
Problems?
If you notice any faults - such as damaged signs, fences or
stiles, fly-tipping, excessive litter or obstructions on footpaths
you can now report them and track
progress online.
Highgate Wood has received the Green Flag Award for over ten
consecutive years. The award scheme is managed by a consortium
comprising Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace and is the
national benchmark against which the quality of public open space
is measured. More information about the award can be found on the
Green
Flag Award website.
Highgate Wood has also received the Green Heritage Award in
recognition of achieving the required standard in managing sites
with historic importance.