Moat Mount Open Space and Mote End Farm
Encyclopedia
Moat Mount Open Space is a Local Nature Reserve
, Borough Grade II, in Mill Hill
in the London Borough of Barnet
. The site is an extensive area bounded by Barnet Way, Barnet Road and Hendon Wood Lane. It includes Barnet Gate Wood
and Scratchwood Countryside Park, but is separate from Scratchwood
itself, which is a neighbouring reserve. Most of the site is open to the public, but Mote End Farm and some other areas are private.
Dollis Brook
rises in Moat Mount, which is a large, hilly open space with a good range of habitats, and magnificent views from the top of the hill. Much of the Countryside Park is grassland, including fine examples of unimproved London clay grassland, which have an excellent diversity of wild flowers. The Park also has Leg of Mutton pond and several small woods, such as Target Wood and Nut Wood.
Moat Mount has a tree trail and picnic area, and also includes Moat Mount Outdoor Centre and Campsite, which has a range of activities for local schools and youth organisations.
Moat Mount was previously owned by Irwin Cox
, the Conservative MP for Harrow from 1899 to 1906.
The main entrance to the reserve is the permanently closed Moat Mount car park on the southbound lane of Barnet Way, a dual carriageway section of the A1
, between Stirling Corner and Apex Corner. The Dollis Valley Greenwalk
starts at the car park, and the London Loop goes through the reserve. Scratchwood
is on the other side of Barnet Way, with access by an underpass at Courtland Avenue.
There are also entrances to the reserve from Barnet Road (near Stirling Corner), from Hendon Wood Lane along the route of the Greenwalk and the Loop, and from Bedford Road.
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
, Borough Grade II, in Mill Hill
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
in the London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
. The site is an extensive area bounded by Barnet Way, Barnet Road and Hendon Wood Lane. It includes Barnet Gate Wood
Barnet Gate Wood
Barnet Gate Wood is in Arkley, Barnet, London. It is owned and managed by the London Borough of Barnet, and is part of the Watling Chase Community Forest....
and Scratchwood Countryside Park, but is separate from Scratchwood
Scratchwood
Scratchwood is an extensive, mainly wooded, country park in Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. The 55 hectare site was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1997, and it is a Site of Metropolitan Importance...
itself, which is a neighbouring reserve. Most of the site is open to the public, but Mote End Farm and some other areas are private.
Dollis Brook
Dollis Brook
Dollis Brook runs through the London Borough of Barnet in North London. It is a tributary of the River Brent, which is itself a tributary of the River Thames. The Dollis Valley Greenwalk follows almost all of Dollis Brook, apart from a short section at the beginning which passes through private...
rises in Moat Mount, which is a large, hilly open space with a good range of habitats, and magnificent views from the top of the hill. Much of the Countryside Park is grassland, including fine examples of unimproved London clay grassland, which have an excellent diversity of wild flowers. The Park also has Leg of Mutton pond and several small woods, such as Target Wood and Nut Wood.
Moat Mount has a tree trail and picnic area, and also includes Moat Mount Outdoor Centre and Campsite, which has a range of activities for local schools and youth organisations.
Moat Mount was previously owned by Irwin Cox
Irwin Cox
Edward Bainbridge Cox, JP, DL, who used the pen-name I.E.B.C. was a British Barrister, magazine proprietor and politician...
, the Conservative MP for Harrow from 1899 to 1906.
The main entrance to the reserve is the permanently closed Moat Mount car park on the southbound lane of Barnet Way, a dual carriageway section of the A1
A1 road (London)
The A1 road in London is an A road in North London. It runs from London Wall to Bignell's Corner, where it crosses the M25 and becomes the A1 motorway, alternating with the A1 as it continues to Edinburgh. The London section of the road passes through four London Boroughs: the City of London,...
, between Stirling Corner and Apex Corner. The Dollis Valley Greenwalk
Dollis Valley Greenwalk
The Dollis Valley Greenwalk is a long distance footpath in the London Borough of Barnet between Moat Mount Nature Reserve in Mill Hill and Hampstead Heath. The route is designed to act as a link between the Capital Ring and the London Loop,and between the many green spaces and wildlife corridors...
starts at the car park, and the London Loop goes through the reserve. Scratchwood
Scratchwood
Scratchwood is an extensive, mainly wooded, country park in Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. The 55 hectare site was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1997, and it is a Site of Metropolitan Importance...
is on the other side of Barnet Way, with access by an underpass at Courtland Avenue.
There are also entrances to the reserve from Barnet Road (near Stirling Corner), from Hendon Wood Lane along the route of the Greenwalk and the Loop, and from Bedford Road.
External links
- Moat Mount on the VisitWoods website