Oak Hill Wood facts for kids
Oak Hill Wood is a special natural area in East Barnet, London. It's like a big, protected park where nature can thrive. This amazing place covers about 10 hectares, which is roughly the size of 20 football fields! It's so important that it's called a Local Nature Reserve (LNR). Part of it is even managed by the London Wildlife Trust, a group dedicated to protecting wildlife.
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Discover Oak Hill Wood!
Oak Hill Wood is a very important place for nature. It's officially known as a "Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation Grade I." This means it's one of the best places in the local area for wildlife. The London Borough of Barnet owns this beautiful wood, helping to keep it safe for everyone to enjoy.
Plants and Animals You Can Find
Oak Hill Wood is an ancient woodland, meaning it has been a forest for hundreds of years. It's home to many different kinds of plants and animals.
Trees and Shrubs
The main trees you'll see here are strong pedunculate oak trees, tall hornbeam trees, and graceful ash trees. Below these tall trees, there's a layer of smaller plants called the shrub layer. Here, you might find hawthorn bushes, field maple trees, and wild service trees.
Ground Plants
When you walk through the wood, look down! In spring, the ground is covered with beautiful bluebells and delicate wood anemones. These flowers make the forest floor look like a colorful carpet.
Birds and Butterflies
Oak Hill Wood is a great place for birdwatching. You might spot tawny owls, tiny nuthatches, busy tree creepers, and gentle stock doves. A small stream flows through the wood. It eventually joins Pymmes Brook, which is also an important nature spot.
There's also a lovely open area called a meadow. This meadow is full of common wildflowers like lady's bedstraw and common knapweed. These flowers attract many butterflies, including the gatekeeper, common blue, and large blue butterflies.
A Look Back in Time
Oak Hill Wood has a long and interesting history, going back at least to the 11th century.
Early History
A very long time ago, in the 11th century, the wood was owned by the Church. Later, in the 1530s, during a time called the dissolution of the monasteries, many Church lands were sold. Oak Hill Wood became part of a larger area known as the Oak Hill Estate.
Opening to the Public
In 1930, the local council, which was then called the East Barnet Council, bought the land. Just a few years later, in 1933, Oak Hill Park and Oak Hill Wood were opened for everyone to visit and enjoy. It became a place where people could connect with nature.
Becoming a Nature Reserve
In 1997, Oak Hill Wood was officially named a Local Nature Reserve. This special title helps protect the wood and its wildlife for future generations. Even a part of the nearby Oak Hill Park, which has rough grassland, is included in this nature reserve.
How to Visit
You can easily get to Oak Hill Wood from several places. There are entrances from Mansfield Avenue, Daneland, and Brookside. You can also enter the wood directly from Oak Hill Park.
