Arkley Lane and Pastures facts for kids
Arkley Lane and Pastures is a special natural area in Arkley, located in the London Borough of Barnet. It covers about 50 hectares, which is like 125 football fields! This area is so important for nature that it's officially recognized as a "Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II." This means it's a really valuable place for plants and animals in the local area.
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What is Arkley Lane?
Arkley Lane is a very old road that starts off Barnet Road. Long ago, it was a "drovers' road." This means people used it to move farm animals like cows and sheep from one place to another. Today, it's a quiet country lane. It sits on the Barnet Plateau, which is a high, flat area of land. The lane has old-fashioned banks and ditches along its sides.
The Hedges and Plants
The hedges along Arkley Lane are very thick and full of different trees. You can spot tall beech trees and hornbeam. There are also ash trees, field maple, and huge, old pedunculate oaks. These trees provide great homes for wildlife.
In spring, the hedges are covered with cow parsley, which has pretty white flowers. The ditches next to the lane are often wet, and you can find special wetland flowers growing there. These include water figwort and wild angelica.
The Woodland and Animals
Next to the lane, there's a small woodland area. It's thought to be very old, possibly even ancient. This woodland is a busy place for birds, especially during nesting season. You might see sparrowhawks flying overhead, or hear the songs of willow warblers. Stock doves also make their nests here. If you're lucky, you might even spot Muntjac deer! These small deer are often seen wandering through the trees.
The Fields and Wildflowers
The fields on both sides of Arkley Lane are managed in a traditional way. Some of them are used for horses to graze, while others are kept as hay meadows. This means the grass is allowed to grow tall and is then cut to make hay for animals.
Three of these fields are very special because they haven't been changed much by modern farming. They are full of wild flowers that love old grasslands. Look out for plants like sneezewort, which has white, daisy-like flowers, and pignut, which has delicate white flowers and an edible root.
Public Access
You can walk along Arkley Lane itself, as it's open to the public. The paved road continues beyond the Barnet area and becomes a bridleway. A bridleway is a path that horses can use, as well as walkers and cyclists. This path leads to Saffron Green Meadows in Hertfordshire and eventually reaches the A1 road.
