About Highgate Wood and Queens Wood

Highgate wood and Queens wood like in the London Borough of Haringey and are neighbouring woodland parks in North London which is surrounded by ancient woodland and forests. Highgate is a 28 hectare expanse of woodland and Queen's wood is roughly 21 Hectares.

During the middle ages the woodland belonged to the Bishop of London who used it as a hunting retreat. Yet in the ensuing centuries it was leased out to various tenants. Then in the 1880's the tenant gave up his lease to the City of London, who adopted it renamed it and recreated its atmosphere.

Highgate was formerly known as Gravelpit wood for whatever reasons and since 1886 has come under the care of the City of London. It was deemed an open space for everybody, including people and animals and since then has been a frequently visited spot by both groups alike.

The foliage mainly consists of woodland red woods such as oak and holly, but it does foster other trees and species of shrubs which have grown naturally over the years. The park is however mostly known for its “Wild Service tree” that is rare and uncommon in these parts of the world.

In terms of fauna, there have been numerous species of birds recorded along with the odd bat, moth and butterfly as well as the occasional fox.

The woods were not always managed to the best of the City of Londons abilities, with tree felling being a frequent occurrence but more recently the historical and ecological importance of the site has been defined when it was given the honour of being a “Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.”

Queens wood is the adjacent woodland to Highgate and stands at its base near Muswell Hill. If you think that Highgate wood had a sinister name in “Gravelpit wood” then Queen's Wood's former name “Churchyard Bottom” may come as a shock. It is presumed that it received this chilling title when bones were found on the grounds. However it was redeemed in 1898 and renamed Queen's Wood in honour of Queen Victoria.

Much like Highgate it consists mainly of oak and hornbeam woodland, amongst other trees such as maples and holly and also the scarce Wild Service Tree is found on its premises. Unlike Highgate, which has a sporting field, and grounds for recreation, the management at Queen's Wood does not focus on such facilities. It does host a playground and attracts the odd bird watcher however. The bird life is diverse and many speicies of woodpeckers kestrels and owls roost at the Woods.

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