Place Description:
Rowley Green Common lies to the north east of Rowley Lane, between Borehamwood and Arkley, just within the northern outskirts of Greater London. It is a unique area of grass, heath and woodland over a layer of pre-glacial pebble gravel. Once open heath dominated by heather and gorse, it became partially colonised by oak and birch following the cessation of grazing during the Second World War. Small scale gravel excavations in the early to mid 1900s have left boggy ponds of botanical interest, where uncommon sphagnum moss species, scarce species of sedge and floating club-rush thrive. In drier areas, the acidic grassland provides a habitat for heather, devil's bit scabious, sheep's sorrel, heath bedstraw and tormentil. The common is surrounded by hedges which are at least 300 years old, and include species such as oak, ash, beech, holly and hawthorn.
The common is managed by selective felling of encroaching woodland. The grassland is cut in spring and autumn and the ponds and hollows are regularly maintained.
Wellington boots are advisable when visiting the site.
Habitat:
Acid grassland, bog, heathland, pond, woodland.
Wildlife Description:
Secondary woodland is dominated by Oak (Quercus robur) and birch (Betula spp.), with some willow (Salix spp.) and aspen (Populus tremula).
Heath and acid grassland supports uncommon species such as heather (Calluna vulgaris), mat-grass (Nardus stricta), petty whin (Genista anglica) and pill sedge (Carex pilulifera).
Species of bog-moss (Sphagnum spp.) occur with various rushes (Juncus spp.), purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea), lesser spearwort (Ranunculus flammula) and star sedge (Carex echinata).
Rare species include floating club-rush (Eleogiton fluitans), marsh speedwell (Veronica scutellata), and bulbous and sharp-flowered rushes (Juncus bulbosus, J. acutiflorus).
The invertebrate fauna includes the locally uncommon emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa), together with many other more common species.
The site also supports diverse bird species, as well as various amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
Directions:
By public transport:
Take the Mainline train to New Barnet, then bus 107 towards Edgware Station and alight at Rowley Green Road. Continue in the same direction, turning right and right again into Rowley Lane. The entrance to the reserve is off this lane on the right.
Take the Underground to High Barnet, then bus 107 towards Edgware Station and follow the directions above.
