Railway Fields

Railway Fields in Harringay, North London is one of three nature reserves in the London Borough of Haringey. About one hectare in area, it was a railway goods yard until 1967.

Habitat, Flora & Fauna

Railway Fields from the entrance

For its size, Railway Fields includes a very good range of habitats. Much of the site is wooded with open birch woodland running along part of the boundary with the railway. Denser woodland and scrub occupies much of the rest of the site. There are also areas of grassland and a small pond. At the centre of the reserve there is a wooden cabin providing space for an office and a classroom.

Over 200 species of wild flowers have been recorded. This includes the unique Haringey Knotweed discovered in 1987, a cross between the Japanese Knotweed and the Russian Vine. More than sixty species of birds have been observed since Railway Fields first opened.

History

A group of children learning about wildlife at the pond

The area that is now the Railway Fields nature reserve was established as a goods yard on the Tottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway in 1868. It seems likely that the main use of the goods yard was for coal.

Just under 100 years later, in 1967, the yard was closed. In 1975 it was acquired by Haringey Council. Initially it was used a community centre for Haringey Social Services. In 1986 it was opened as a nature park and used as an educational nature reserve. In 1990 it was declared a statutory local nature reserve.