Railway Fields
Encyclopedia
Railway Fields in Harringay
, North London, is a Local Nature Reserve
in the London Borough of Haringey
. About one hectare
in area, it was a railway goods yard until 1967.
For its size, Railway Fields includes a very good range of habitats. Much of the site is wooded with open birch
woodland running along part of the boundary with the railway. Denser woodland and scrub occupies much of the rest of the site. There are also areas of grassland and a small pond. At the centre of the reserve there is a wooden cabin providing space for an office and a classroom.
Over 200 species of wild flowers have been recorded. This includes the unique Haringey Knotweed discovered in 1987, a cross between the Japanese Knotweed
and the Russian vine. More than sixty species of birds have been observed since Railway Fields first opened.
The area that is now the Railway Fields nature reserve was established as a goods yard on the Tottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway
in 1868. It seems likely that the main use of the goods yard was for coal.
Just under 100 years later, in 1967, the yard was closed. In 1975 it was acquired by Haringey Council. Initially it was used a community centre for Haringey Social Services. In 1986 it was opened as a nature park and used as an educational nature reserve. In 1990 it was declared a statutory local nature reserve.
Harringay
Harringay is a residential area of North London, part of the London Borough of Haringey, United Kingdom. It is centred on the section of Green Lanes running between the northern boundary of Finsbury Park up to the southern boundary of Duckett's Common, not far from Turnpike Lane.-Location:The...
, North London, is a Local Nature Reserve
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...
in the London Borough of Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
. About one hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
in area, it was a railway goods yard until 1967.
Habitat, Flora & Fauna
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
woodland running along part of the boundary with the railway. Denser woodland and scrub occupies much of the rest of the site. There are also areas of grassland and a small pond. At the centre of the reserve there is a wooden cabin providing space for an office and a classroom.
Over 200 species of wild flowers have been recorded. This includes the unique Haringey Knotweed discovered in 1987, a cross between the Japanese Knotweed
Japanese knotweed
Japanese Knotweed is a large, herbaceous perennial plant, native to eastern Asia in Japan, China and Korea...
and the Russian vine. More than sixty species of birds have been observed since Railway Fields first opened.
History
Tottenham & Hampstead Junction Railway
thumb|right|Map dated 1914, showing the line as "Tottenhm & Hampstead Jnt"The Tottenham & Hampstead Junction Railway was a railway line in north London, formed by an Act of Parliament of 28 July 1862, and was effectively part of an attempt by the Great Eastern Railway to obtain a west end terminus,...
in 1868. It seems likely that the main use of the goods yard was for coal.
Just under 100 years later, in 1967, the yard was closed. In 1975 it was acquired by Haringey Council. Initially it was used a community centre for Haringey Social Services. In 1986 it was opened as a nature park and used as an educational nature reserve. In 1990 it was declared a statutory local nature reserve.
External links
- London Wildweb - Railway Fields Local Nature Reserve
- Harringay online - Website for Harringay residents