Glebe Lane Pastures

Glebe Lane Pastures is a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation in Arkley, within the London Borough of Barnet. It covers five fields off Glebe Lane, some cut for hay and others grazed by horses. The grassland remains unimproved, meaning it has never been reseeded or heavily fertilised. Yorkshire Fog grass dominates most areas, while Tufted Hair-grass thrives in damper patches. The site’s main value lies in its wide range of old meadow plants. The meadows support uncommon wildflowers that have survived for centuries without modern farming. These include species such as pignut and adder’s-tongue fern. The mix of grasses and herbs creates a varied habitat for insects and birds. The diversity reflects the land’s long history as traditional pasture. Its condition shows how older farming methods helped maintain wildlife. Visitors can only view the pastures from Barnet Road east of Glebe Lane. From this roadside vantage point, the fields stretch out in a quiet green strip. The scene changes with the seasons, from spring wildflowers to summer grasses and autumn seed heads. The unimproved grassland remains a living record of Barnet’s rural past.