There are two sections to the nature trail: The orange route is shorter with more gentle gradients, 2 4 ideal for those with limited mobility; the purple route is Along this stretch of path there is dense Directly in front of you is a deep longer, with steps, slopes and generally less even terrain – tree cover of beech, downy birch and oak. hollow fringed with rhododendrons both finish at the road opposite the Viewpoint car park – enjoy! Below the trees large areas are covered 3 and filled with marsh plants like yellow in vegetation which includes bracken (a As you walk the route you will notice iris and willow scrub. This was once type of fern), bramble, holly and ivy. If the ground here is undulating – it is an ornamental lake built by Sir William start 1 you look carefully you might also spot a pattern repeated over much of the Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan Start (The View Point): It is Make your way to the western end of the car honeysuckle. Vegetation below the tree Common. This is the result of former fame) in the 1890s, who okay to park your car here park and cross the road (take care this stretch can 5 canopy is known as ‘understorey’. gravel digging activities in the 19th owned the grounds and should you need to. There are be very busy). You will see a track leading into the Carry on century. These gravel banks and nearby house. Tragically, dramatic views across west London woodland with a waymarking past the hollows are now home to on 29th May 1911 Gilbert including -on-the-Hill with sign for the sign, to the unusual plants invited two local girls to St Mary’s Church, one of the last Grimsdyke Circular right, marking including swim in the lake. He died remaining Saxon churches in Walk. This is part the death of Sir William and then rare ferns. attempting to help one of them . On a clear day the North of the historic between two magnificent ‘sentinel’ when she got into difficulties. Continue Downs and Surrey Hills are visible Harrow Wellingtonias. Redwoods like left and make your way on the horizon. Weald these were discovered in the 1850s around the lake, to Common – during the Californian gold rush end up at the follow the and are amongst the largest sign on the trail left. living things on earth. Walk north side. along the short section of path lined with yew trees. At its end you are greeted 9 by more magnificent trees and a wonderful view of Cross the main track. You should now Grim’s Dyke Hotel be following a short section of the 7 London LOOP. Turn right and continue Head back past the cottages. A little further on, the towards the 11 ditch on the left-hand side deepens. 6 old wall and Before continuing a slight A narrow strip of grassland appears The bank is topped with the remnants 8 Orange route walkers: continue on to Gilbert’s Lake. detour is called for: Turn left and either side of the path here. The soil of an old hawthorn boundary hedge. 10 You cross a series of ditches Old Redding and the Viewpoint car park Bear left and take pass by a section of broken wall. Carry is lime deficient. The main grassland Uncommon plants like wood sorrel and which drain the interior of the where our walk began. Cross the road the gently rising path on walking until you are standing on species are red fescue, common bent hard fern survive in the damp, shady Common – mosses, rushes carefully. marked by the handrail. You are a low bridge. This crosses the Grim’s and purple moor-grass, the latter species conditions the ditch offers. and ferns are dotted along their Purple route walkers: Turn left just now following part of the London Dyke (the structure which lends its name is rare in London. It is here where the banks. A number of large oaks before you meet the main road. LOOP one of the capital’s key to the Hotel and grounds). Grim is one last vestiges of heathland were recorded mark the Common’s boundary. Initially, pines and other evergreens walking routes. This stretch follows of the many names for the Norse God back in the 1980s and its These are about 150 years old. of the old Grim’s Dyke gardens line the boundary of the old Common Woden. When exactly it re-establishment A little further along on the the route but these abruptly give and the once more formal Grim’s was built or its function most likely. right is an old pollarded way to native species as the land Dyke gardens. This is marked by is currently unknown oak that predates rises and once again you are on the dense native tree cover of beech, - it is possibly late these. Pollards have Common. There are logs and other downy birch and oak Iron Age. This is had their branches fallen dead wood either side of the to the left and now an important lopped off in the track. This is excellent habitat for birds, more exotic area for wetland past. Cross over insects and fungi. The most common species to plants, insects Len’s Avenue tree here is downy birch, a relative of the the right. and birds. (named after more familiar silver variety. Bear left at the Leonard Renery a end of the path (at post 17) and continue on past keeper of the to the cottages. 17 Common). Head through the 14 woodland and cross Beech trees also dominate this area. 16 Some have been growing since the Some of the main track, eventually 12 1960s. These are joined by a number 15 the drainage emerging on the tarmac road to the The To the left you will see a fence behind of other trees including hornbeam ditches which Grim’s Dyke Hotel. There is a seating trees which is a geological Site of Special (which has elliptical many-toothed cross the Common area and some fine specimens of deodar here are Scientific Interest (or SSSI). Such sites are 13 This is an area of beech leaves and steel-grey, fluted bark), have their source within the cedar and oak. Carry on across the road typically the best examples of their kind in England. woodland with a few younger downy birch, oak and yew (one of SSSI. Around the channels, and through the woodland. A downwards 50-100 years Here Ice-age gravels are exposed. The oaks beneath. There is only three native conifers). On where there is enough light, slope marks the edge of the old Grim’s old and the area more origin of these ‘Pebble Gravels’ as little ground vegetation. a warm, sunny day, the uncommon plants occur e.g. Dyke gardens. A little further along you turn open (with little vegetation they are termed, is uncertain. On quiet days, red fox glades here are a the lesser spearwort with its left onto the track to Old Redding and the below). Most are oak - with The boundary bank with the and muntjac deer can good place to see attractive yellow flowers. Viewpoint car park where our walk began. rough bark. Beech and rowan Common represents the be seen here. Turn speckled wood This is a type of buttercup. Cross the road carefully. are also found – these have land level prior to gravel right just before butterflies. smooth bark. Rowan has extraction and is now reaching Common Cross over pinnate leaves whereas beech topped with some fine Road to head back Len’s Avenue leaves are elliptical. south. specimens of oak. again. Come again soon! Credits: Hoverfly picture courtesy of John Dobson; Common Conservators Great Spotted Woodpecker: Tom Marshall RSPB-images.com; c/o Harrow Council, Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow HA1 2UY Text and all other photographs Denis Vickers

Harrow Weald Common Conservators Common Weald Harrow

Nearest bus route: 258 to Clamp Hill. Clamp to 258 route: bus Nearest Chairman Conservators October 2009 October Conservators Common Weald Harrow Chairman

park is 420 metres (455 yards) on the left. left. the on yards) (455 metres 420 is park Ferrari Tony

turn left at Old Redding, the View Point car car Point View the Redding, Old at left turn

the Common as much as we do. we as much as Common the

along Brookhill (A409) towards Clamp Hill, Hill, Clamp towards (A409) Brookhill along

Speaking on behalf of the Conservators, we hope you enjoy your time on on time your enjoy you hope we Conservators, the of behalf on Speaking

Uxbridge Road (A410), Harrow Weald, head head Weald, Harrow (A410), Road Uxbridge

Starts at the Viewpoint - directions: form form directions: - Viewpoint the at Starts

largest development in public access to the common in the last 20 years. 20 last the in common the to access public in development largest

wildlife and offering leisure facilities. The Nature Trail represents the single single the represents Trail Nature The facilities. leisure offering and wildlife

3.75 km (2.35 miles) (2.35 km 3.75 nature of the common, striking a balance between providing a haven for for haven a providing between balance a striking common, the of nature

Today’s Conservators face different challenges. We seek to preserve the the preserve to seek We challenges. different face Conservators Today’s

fines of £5 and 40 shillings per day for continuing breach. continuing for day per shillings 40 and £5 of fines Nature Trail Trail Nature

or any idle or disorderly person”. Breakers of the bye laws could face face could laws bye the of Breakers person”. disorderly or idle any or

gamblers, card sharps, squatters, vagrants, persons guilty of brawling brawling of guilty persons vagrants, squatters, sharps, card gamblers,

taking birds eggs” and were responsible for the “apprehension of of “apprehension the for responsible were and eggs” birds taking

substances”, prevented “bird catching, gin traps, laying snares and and snares laying traps, gin catching, “bird prevented substances”,

They prevented the removal of “turf sods, gravel, sand and other other and sand gravel, sods, “turf of removal the prevented They Harrow Weald Common Weald Harrow

The issues faced by the original Conservators were different to today. today. to different were Conservators original the by faced issues The

prohibited from receiving any remuneration by parliament. by remuneration any receiving from prohibited

Weald ward and elsewhere in Harrow. The Conservators are are Conservators The Harrow. in elsewhere and ward Weald

board (2009) consists of five local councillors from Harrow Harrow from councillors local five of consists (2009) board

of the conservators and financing of their work. The current current The work. their of financing and conservators the of

were abolished Harrow Council took over the appointment appointment the over took Council Harrow abolished were

the Hendon Rural District Council but as these bodies bodies these as but Council District Rural Hendon the

Councils, Harrow Weald and Pinner Parish Councils and and Councils Parish Pinner and Weald Harrow Councils,

the Harrow, and Wembley Urban District District Urban Wembley and Wealdstone Harrow, the

Originally the Conservators were representatives of of representatives were Conservators the Originally

today.

for the community, the delightful open space we find find we space open delightful the community, the for

conservators have cared for the common, preserving, preserving, common, the for cared have conservators

manage” the common. For over a hundred years the the years hundred a over For common. the manage”

of Parliament on 20 June 1899 to “regulate and and “regulate to 1899 June 20 on Parliament of

Commons (Harrow Weald) Supplemental Act Act Supplemental Weald) (Harrow Commons

This body was established by the Metropolitan Metropolitan the by established was body This Harrow Weald Common Conservators Common Weald Harrow

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Crown Copyright. Unauthorised Reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecutions or civil proceedings. .

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Harrow Weald Common

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Levels Wood 15

Geological SSSI 9 Grim’s Dyke Grim’s 6 Hotel Dyke 5

Gilbert’s Lake 4 16 N Grimsdyke Open Space 7 Shoots The 17 Nurseries Kiln 3 Harrow Weald Common Nature Trail - long route

Nature Trail - short route Weald Wood 8 The City Open 2 Space Metres 0 50 50 100 1

‘The Case is Altered’ Harrow Weald The Viewpoint Pub Common