Ecology and Wildlife Monitoring
Our Wildlife monitoring programmes form a key part of our work on Hampstead Heath. We support the City of London to deliver monitoring programmes on key species wildlife species across our open spaces.
Our volunteer wildlife monitors work in small groups collecting primary ecological data that feeds into the Heath’s conservation management plans.
Our current wildlife monitoring programmes cover:
Trees and flora, focusing on seasonal changes ‘Nature’s Calendar’
Amphibians
We also work closely with partner organisations such as the ZSL, the Heath and Hampstead Society and London Natural History Society (LNHS) on surveying hedgehogs, nesting birds and other wildlife.
If you would like to get involved in our wildlife monitoring projects, do check out our volunteer page or for trees and flora, check our nature’s calendar webpage.
One important aspect of our monitoring programmes is that the information from them feeds into reports (below), national databases, and also directly into Hampstead Heath’s Annual Work Programme and our conservation work.
Hampstead Heath Wildlife and Ecology reports
Click above to read our butterfly monitoring report for the 2023 monitoring season.
Download our most recent year’s reptile monitoring results (report for the 2023 season)
Read the most recent hedgehog monitoring report for Hampstead Heath, compiled by the London Hogwatch team.
Read the 2020 Hampstead Heath nesting bird survey report.
Read about approaches to controlling Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) in this article by Alasdair Nichol from Hampstead Heath’s Tree Team.
Read about the value of standing dead wood (dead trees left in situ) in this article by David Humphries, Tree Management Officer at the City of London.
Videos to find out more
Want to find out more? Check out the following video talks hosted by the LNHS: m
Wildlife Monitoring on Hampstead Heath by Rory Dimond of Heath Hands
Hedgehog monitoring by Dr Chris Carbone from London Hogwatch
Nesting bird survey by Professor Jeff Waage of Heath Hands and the Heath and Hampstead Society.
