Copthall Railway Walk and Copthall Old Common

Copthall Railway Walk and Copthall Old Common lie in Mill Hill, part of the London Borough of Barnet. The Railway Walk follows a disused railway line, closed in 1964, that once connected Mill Hill East to Edgware. It stretches for just under a mile between two bridges under Sanders Lane. Copthall Old Common sits south of the central section of the walk, bordered by a green lane and allotments. A public footpath runs through the allotments to the Great North Way. The reserve covers nine hectares and is recognised for its nature conservation value. Most of the site is woodland, with sycamore, oak and silver birch as the main trees. Scrub and rough grassland add variety to the landscape. Birdlife is abundant, and glow worms, a rare and declining species, can still be found here. The Common holds some fine old oaks, and bluebells appear in the hedge bottoms each spring. Visitors walk along the old railway track, now a quiet green corridor. The woodland offers shade and shelter, while the open grassland allows views across the site. The old oaks on the Common stand as landmarks among the younger trees. Bluebells line the hedges in season, and the rare glow worms appear at night in summer. The green lane and footpath provide routes into the wider area beyond the reserve.