Arkley South Field

Arkley South Fields is a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation in Arkley, within the London Borough of Barnet. It covers a large area of former farmland left fallow, with hedgerows and ditches running between the fields. The site holds little special botanical value but plays a key role for breeding birds. Skylarks nest here in significant numbers, a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Other birds include meadow pipits, kestrels, reed buntings, whitethroats, willow warblers and green woodpeckers. The fields lie behind the last houses along Barnet Gate Lane, off Barnet Road. Public access is not allowed, so the land cannot be walked through. Visitors can still observe the open landscape and its wildlife from the lane. The hedgerows and ditches form visible boundaries between the fields. Skylarks often rise and sing over the grassland in spring and summer. From the lane the fields stretch out as a quiet green space amid suburban streets. The absence of people allows birds to breed undisturbed. Kestrels hover above the hedges searching for prey. Reed buntings perch on the tops of the ditch-side vegetation. The scene offers a glimpse of countryside within London, though it remains out of reach beyond the fence.