Hampstead Heath is one of London’s most beloved green spaces. On Anthill Meadow, visitors can witness a particularly charming conservation project, as natural grazing is used to boost the local biodiversity.
Hampstead Heath is a mosaic of habitats, a dream for both casual walkers and ecologists alike.
From the large open grasslands to streams and ponds, it offers the opportunity to experience nature in a way few other spaces around the capital can.
One little corner, at Anthill Meadow in the northwest of the Heath by Golders Green, is subject to a very particular conservation effort, as natural grazing is being trialled to support nature recovery.
This week, five Norfolk Horn and Oxford Down ewes, loaned from Mudchute City Farm, were introduced to the meadow for their second stint this year.
The sheep, which will be monitored by City of London Corporation ecologists, are seen as a low-impact alternative to machinery used to boost local biodiversity.
Meadow ants in particular are known to thrive in this part of the Heath, which in turn create conditions encouraging wildlife such as green woodpeckers.
The Corporation, which manages the space as a registered charity, began trialling conservation grazing in 2019, more than 50 years since sheep last roamed locally.
On Wednesday a ceremonial grazing declaration was made, with the Masters of the Woolmakers’ and Butchers’ Liveries among those present as the sheep kicked off their latest two-week residency.
Also in attendance was Alderman Gregory Jones KC, Chair of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee.
Alderman Jones told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “This is not some commercial activity, it is a biodiversity activity. There are anthills, for example, that if we were to mow the grass, treat the grass in a conventional machinery way, they could be damaged.”
Alderman Jones said in the future there are plans to potentially engage people more formally and expand the benefits of the sheep’s time on the Heath.
“This is why we’re making it a little bit of an event, because it’s very important in terms of education to know how we get our food, and also one of the red hot topics at the moment is resilience.”
Photos dug out by The London Archives show sheep grazing on the Heath dating back to the 18th century.
The practice had all but disappeared however during the 1950s, with their return part of an effort by the Corporation to trial traditional management techniques.
Alderman Jones said the research into the history of sheep on the Heath had unveiled parallels with our own time, in particular concerns over the impact of the climate and weather patterns.
“Even back in the 19th century there were licenses that were extended because the grazers were saying that we’ve had a drought, and if it’s a drought you can’t fatten your sheep. You need more time.
“So even then there was evidence of the impact of climate [change]. Obviously, it’s more extreme now. Those days of course they were being allowed to graze on a commercial basis. That’s not the basis here. It’s completely conservation.”
The work is not cheap, with Alderman Jones saying the exercise costs thousands of pounds to run.
There are potential plans to expand it in the future, but with the Corporation moving its green space charities to a grant funding model, the hope is that there may be more financial support from individuals or companies looking to support such nature conservation efforts.
“We do want to look at expanding it, maybe to Highgate Wood,” he said.
“And so we’re thinking that this is a sort of thing that members of the public and other organisations, also companies, as part of their biodiversity ethos would want to sponsor.
“One of the messages we want to get out, if there are people [interested], we’re happy and keen to speak and see if this program can be expanded. But obviously we would need extra money for that, and at the moment we wouldn’t be able to justify taking away the money that we spend on the Heath.”
Alderman Jones said the Corporation spends about £13 million a year on the Heath, of which only a few million is recovered in charges.
“People come and see this place and see it’s all wild,” he said. “It takes a lot of expert intervention to maintain the wild bits, the recreational bits and the dog walking areas.
“So we are keen to expand and get the message out there. We’d be keen to speak and even a modest amount of money can make a difference.”
‘It’s not cool to jump in a wildlife pond’
The heatwaves this summer have posed various challenges for the Corporation and the Heath.
Whether fighting at the lido, people jumping into wildlife ponds or fires starting from barbecues, the authority has had its hands full during the warmer months.
With next year to potentially see similarly hot temperatures, what is the Corporation doing to help minimise the impacts?
“The first thing is education, and that’s a critical thing,” Alderman Jones said. “It’s peoples’ behaviour.
“It’s a minority of people that come onto the Heath and break the byelaws or cause trouble at the lido, but it’s enough to cause significant damage and also cost.
“Every pound that we spend on repairing something that’s been vandalised or having to deal with a lifeguard who’s been assaulted or people who jump into wildlife ponds just because they feel they’re hot, and they haven’t booked to go into the lido, is a pound that we’re not spending on maintaining the Heath for everyone else.
“So the first thing is education. It’s not cool to jump in a wildlife pond. We welcome everyone to the Heath, but if you can’t behave yourself stay at home, take a cold shower. Otherwise you risk damaging the habitat as well as causing money.
“The next thing we’re doing is obviously our constabulary, and we work in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police, but our constabulary are there to assist.
“We will arrest people. We will enforce the byelaws, and also the criminal law as well.”
As the temperature recedes and the nights draw in, many of these points feel an increasingly distant concern before they undoubtedly reappear with gusto again next summer.
For now, the sheep will continue their grazing until September 21, when they will be sent back to their permanent east London base.
At least, that is, until next year, when this especially charming conservation project begins all over again.
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