- Cherry Tree Wood
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Cherry Tree Wood is a park and a remnant of ancient woodland[1][2] (which was known as Finchley Wood[3]) in East Finchley, in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a Local Nature Reserve.[4]
Located next to East Finchley tube station, it is approximately 4.5 hectares in size, and contains woodland, a central grassland, picnic area and tennis and basketball courts.[2] There is also a cafe and a childrens' playground.
Its history may date back to prehistoric times, and the park was part of the hunting grounds of the Bishop of London in the 12th century.[5] It was part of Great Hornsey Park shown on Rocque's map of 1754.[4] It was known as Dirthouse Wood because the night soil and horse manure from London's streets was brought to the Dirthouse, now the White Lion pub next to East Finchley Station, as fertiliser for hay meadows.[3] In 1914 it was purchased by Finchley Council from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to create a public park.[6]
Until it became a public park, hornbeam trees were cut back every few years to provide wood for charcoal, while oaks were allowed to grow to their full height for timber. Now that coppicing has ceased the hornbeams have grown tall and rangy, and the wood has grown shaded. Wood anemone and other ancient plants can be found in the spring, and nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker are often seen.[4]
Mutton Brook rises in Cherry Tree Wood,[3] and the Capital Ring between Hendon and Highgate passes through it.[7]
Contents
Gallery
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Cherry Tree Wood in autumn
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Cherry Tree Wood in winter
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Cherry Tree Wood in winter
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Path with remnants of snow
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Playground
See also
References
- ^ Friends of Cherry Tree Wood accessed 03/01/2009
- ^ a b BBC Breathing Places - Cherry Tree Wood accessed 03/01/2009
- ^ a b c Cherry Tree Wood, Barnet Online
- ^ a b c Cherry Tree Wood, London Wildweb
- ^ Friends of Cherry Tree Wood - History of Cherry Tree Wood accessed 03/01/2009
- ^ Cherry Tree Wood, London Gardens Online
- ^ Capital Ring, Walk 11, Hendon to Highgate
External links
- Cherry Tree Wood on the VisitWoods website
Categories:- Ancient woods of London
- Local Nature Reserves in England
- Nature reserves in London
- Geography of Barnet
- Parks and open spaces in Barnet
- Capital Ring
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