Monken Hadley Common

Monken Hadley Common is a large, wedge-shaped area of about 72 hectares between Monken Hadley and Cockfosters in the London Borough of Barnet. It is registered common land owned by the Trustees of Monken Hadley Common and lies within the Monken Hadley Conservation Area. The common is listed as a “Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I.” It is 1.5 miles long and tapers from half a mile wide at the Monken Hadley end to a point at Cockfosters. The London Loop and Pymmes Brook Trail cross the common, and several roads and paths provide access. The common is a remnant of the former Royal Forest of Enfield Chase, enclosed in the 18th century. Until the 1950s, local people still used the land for grazing under commoners’ rights. The East Coast Main Railway Line cuts through the middle of the site. The wooded areas are dominated by pedunculate oak, with hornbeam, beech and field maples also present. Holly forms dense patches in places, while Midland hawthorn and hazel grow in other areas. Visitors find a landscape of oak woodland with a rich understorey of shrubs and wildflowers. Butterflies such as white-letter hairstreak and purple hairstreak fly among the trees. Sparrowhawks and tawny owls nest here, and Beech Hill Lake supports waterfowl and Daubenton’s bats. Two smaller ponds hold diverse plant life and attract grass snakes. The common offers quiet paths for walking, with views across the varied habitats.