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Mary Forsdyke Gardens

2 ha

📷 Alex McGregor · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeInsects

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

51.63594, -0.34615

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦91+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Blue Tit
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
☕Café on site — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦91+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Blue Tit
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
☕Café on site — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

CaféParking

Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Mallard, Blue Tit, Tufted Duck +88 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Mallard, Blue Tit, Tufted Duck +88 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White +69 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White +69 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Family friendly

Strong match

café; Urban park — family destination

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

24 signed routes nearby · 5 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Harrow Weald Common Nature TrailWalking route

Short walk. Orange waymarking http://www.harrowncf.org/Harrow_Weald_Nature_Trail.pdf

Named routeLocal walking route

Celandine RouteWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

LOOP link to Elstree & Borehamwood stationWalking route

Named routePoint-to-pointRegional walking route

LOOP link to Stanmore UndergroundWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Watling Chase Timberland TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

52 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

LCN 45Cycling route

Named routeRef 45Local cycle route

Wembley to Harrow Weald CyclewayCycling route

Named routeRegional cycle route

LCN 89Cycling route

Named routeRef 89Local cycle route

LCN 89Cycling route

Named routeRef 89Local cycle route

Belmont TrailCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Metropolitan cycle routeCycling route

Named routeRef MLocal cycle route

🐴

Horse riding

1 public path nearby

Public paths

Whomsoever Lanebridleway · 353 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 353 mPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

19,756 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

19,756 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds95 species

springsummerautumnwinter

2025

Red Kite · Mallard · Blue Tit · Robin · Tufted Duck +90

Red KiteMilvus milvus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
CootFulica atra
Great TitParus major
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
MagpiePica pica
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
GadwallMareca strepera
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
DunnockPrunella modularis
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
Herring GullLarus argentatus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri
BuzzardButeo buteo
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
BlackbirdTurdus merula
SwallowHirundo rustica
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus
JayGarrulus glandarius
SwiftApus apus
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
NuthatchSitta europaea
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
PeregrineFalco peregrinus
RedwingTurdus iliacus2024
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
TealAnas crecca
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Common TernSterna hirundo
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
Common GullLarus canus
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
HobbyFalco subbuteo
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2024
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2024
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
RavenCorvus corax
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus2024
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2024
Falco peregrinus peregrinusFalco peregrinus peregrinus2024
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
SnipeGallinago gallinago
RedshankTringa totanus
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
CuckooCuculus canorus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus2024
Water RailRallus aquaticus2024
GoosanderMergus merganser2024
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2024
BitternBotaurus stellaris2024
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2024
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2024
Larus argentatus argentatusLarus argentatus argentatus2024
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea2024
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2024
ScaupAythya marila2024

🦌

Mammals3 species

autumnwinter

2025

Muntjac · Red Fox · Grey Squirrel

MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis

🐝

Insects72 species

summerautumn

2026

Meadow Brown · Gatekeeper · Small White · Ringlet · Dock Bug +67

Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
Small WhitePieris rapae2024
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2024
Dock BugCoreus marginatus2025
Brown HawkerAeshna grandis2024
24-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata
Sigara (Pseudovermicorixa) nigrolineataSigara (Pseudovermicorixa) nigrolineata2025
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2025
Common Water-BoatmanNotonecta (Notonecta) glauca2025
Sigara (Vermicorixa) lateralisSigara (Vermicorixa) lateralis2025
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2025
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2025
Volucella inanisVolucella inanis2024
CommaPolygonia c-album2024
PeacockAglais io2024
Large SkipperOchlodes sylvanus2024
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2024
Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2024
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2025
Myrmica ruginodisMyrmica ruginodis2025
Datonychus melanostictusDatonychus melanostictus2025
Gerris (Gerris) gibbiferGerris (Gerris) gibbifer2025
Eutrichapion erviEutrichapion ervi2025
Punctate CorixaCorixa punctata2025
Southern Oak Bush-cricketMeconema meridionale2025
Orchestes hortorumOrchestes hortorum2025
CaliroaCaliroa2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Notiophilus biguttatusNotiophilus biguttatus2025
Anthocomus rufusAnthocomus rufus2025
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2025
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2025
Nalassus laevioctostriatusNalassus laevioctostriatus2025
Common PondskaterGerris (Gerris) lacustris2025
Water ScorpionNepa cinerea2025
Balclutha punctataBalclutha punctata2025
Iassus lanioIassus lanio2025
Notaris scirpiNotaris scirpi2025
Parethelcus pollinariusParethelcus pollinarius2025
Sigara (Subsigara) falleniSigara (Subsigara) falleni2025
Nut Leaf WeevilStrophosoma melanogrammum2025
Eutrichapion viciaeEutrichapion viciae2025
Corixa panzeriCorixa panzeri2025
Notostira elongataNotostira elongata2025
Lesser Marsh GrasshopperChorthippus albomarginatus2025
Harpalus affinisHarpalus affinis2025
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2025
Cicadella viridisCicadella viridis2025
Heterotoma planicornisHeterotoma planicornis2025
Scirtes hemisphaericusScirtes hemisphaericus2025
Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens2025
Strawberry Seed BeetleHarpalus rufipes2025
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea2025
Sigara (Sigara) dorsalisSigara (Sigara) dorsalis2025
Notonecta (Notonecta) maculataNotonecta (Notonecta) maculata2025
Slender Ground-hopperTetrix subulata2025
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2025
Abax parallelepipedusAbax parallelepipedus2025
Snail HunterCychrus caraboides2025
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2025
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024
Large WhitePieris brassicae2024
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2024
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2024
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
Malachite BeetleMalachius bipustulatus2024
Orchesia undulataOrchesia undulata2024
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2024
Xylota segnisXylota segnis2024

🌿

Plants14 species

springautumn

2025

Common Smoothcap · Pedunculate Oak · Tufted Hair-grass · Marsh-marigold · Narrow Buckler-fern +9

Common SmoothcapAtrichum undulatum2024
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris
Narrow Buckler-fernDryopteris carthusiana2024
Dryopteris borreriDryopteris borreri2024
Black HorehoundBallota nigra2024
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea2024
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2024
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2024
Common VetchVicia sativa2024
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea2024
BugleAjuga reptans2024
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis2024

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

19,756 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds95 species

springsummerautumnwinter

2025

Red Kite · Mallard · Blue Tit · Robin · Tufted Duck +90

Red KiteMilvus milvus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
CootFulica atra
Great TitParus major
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
MagpiePica pica
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
GadwallMareca strepera
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
DunnockPrunella modularis
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
Herring GullLarus argentatus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri
BuzzardButeo buteo
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
BlackbirdTurdus merula
SwallowHirundo rustica
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus
JayGarrulus glandarius
SwiftApus apus
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
NuthatchSitta europaea
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
PeregrineFalco peregrinus
RedwingTurdus iliacus2024
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
TealAnas crecca
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Common TernSterna hirundo
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
Common GullLarus canus
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
HobbyFalco subbuteo
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2024
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2024
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
RavenCorvus corax
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus2024
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2024
Falco peregrinus peregrinusFalco peregrinus peregrinus2024
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
SnipeGallinago gallinago
RedshankTringa totanus
Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
CuckooCuculus canorus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus2024
Water RailRallus aquaticus2024
GoosanderMergus merganser2024
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2024
BitternBotaurus stellaris2024
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2024
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2024
Larus argentatus argentatusLarus argentatus argentatus2024
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea2024
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2024
ScaupAythya marila2024

🦌

Mammals3 species

autumnwinter

2025

Muntjac · Red Fox · Grey Squirrel

MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis

🐝

Insects72 species

summerautumn

2026

Meadow Brown · Gatekeeper · Small White · Ringlet · Dock Bug +67

Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
Small WhitePieris rapae2024
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2024
Dock BugCoreus marginatus2025
Brown HawkerAeshna grandis2024
24-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata
Sigara (Pseudovermicorixa) nigrolineataSigara (Pseudovermicorixa) nigrolineata2025
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2025
Common Water-BoatmanNotonecta (Notonecta) glauca2025
Sigara (Vermicorixa) lateralisSigara (Vermicorixa) lateralis2025
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2025
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2025
Volucella inanisVolucella inanis2024
CommaPolygonia c-album2024
PeacockAglais io2024
Large SkipperOchlodes sylvanus2024
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2024
Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2024
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2025
Myrmica ruginodisMyrmica ruginodis2025
Datonychus melanostictusDatonychus melanostictus2025
Gerris (Gerris) gibbiferGerris (Gerris) gibbifer2025
Eutrichapion erviEutrichapion ervi2025
Punctate CorixaCorixa punctata2025
Southern Oak Bush-cricketMeconema meridionale2025
Orchestes hortorumOrchestes hortorum2025
CaliroaCaliroa2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Notiophilus biguttatusNotiophilus biguttatus2025
Anthocomus rufusAnthocomus rufus2025
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2025
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2025
Nalassus laevioctostriatusNalassus laevioctostriatus2025
Common PondskaterGerris (Gerris) lacustris2025
Water ScorpionNepa cinerea2025
Balclutha punctataBalclutha punctata2025
Iassus lanioIassus lanio2025
Notaris scirpiNotaris scirpi2025
Parethelcus pollinariusParethelcus pollinarius2025
Sigara (Subsigara) falleniSigara (Subsigara) falleni2025
Nut Leaf WeevilStrophosoma melanogrammum2025
Eutrichapion viciaeEutrichapion viciae2025
Corixa panzeriCorixa panzeri2025
Notostira elongataNotostira elongata2025
Lesser Marsh GrasshopperChorthippus albomarginatus2025
Harpalus affinisHarpalus affinis2025
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2025
Cicadella viridisCicadella viridis2025
Heterotoma planicornisHeterotoma planicornis2025
Scirtes hemisphaericusScirtes hemisphaericus2025
Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens2025
Strawberry Seed BeetleHarpalus rufipes2025
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea2025
Sigara (Sigara) dorsalisSigara (Sigara) dorsalis2025
Notonecta (Notonecta) maculataNotonecta (Notonecta) maculata2025
Slender Ground-hopperTetrix subulata2025
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2025
Abax parallelepipedusAbax parallelepipedus2025
Snail HunterCychrus caraboides2025
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2025
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024
Large WhitePieris brassicae2024
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2024
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2024
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
Malachite BeetleMalachius bipustulatus2024
Orchesia undulataOrchesia undulata2024
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2024
Xylota segnisXylota segnis2024

🌿

Plants14 species

springautumn

2025

Common Smoothcap · Pedunculate Oak · Tufted Hair-grass · Marsh-marigold · Narrow Buckler-fern +9

Common SmoothcapAtrichum undulatum2024
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris
Narrow Buckler-fernDryopteris carthusiana2024
Dryopteris borreriDryopteris borreri2024
Black HorehoundBallota nigra2024
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea2024
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2024
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2024
Common VetchVicia sativa2024
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea2024
BugleAjuga reptans2024
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis2024

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Alex McGregor · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

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🌱Aldenham Country ParkUrban park2.7 km→🌱Canons ParkUrban park4.5 km→🌱Oxhey ParkUrban park3.3 km→✦ALDENHAM HOUSEHistoric site3.3 km→🌱King George V Memorial GardenUrban park4.4 km→🌱Canons ParkUrban park4.5 km→

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