As the days lengthen and the weather warms up, nature also starts to awaken on Hampstead Heath and this can be seen in some of the stars of spring, but also some more hidden treasures to be found on our green spaces. Read on to find out more about what you can find.

Our charismatic Spring stars include the beautiful magnolias at Kenwood (see above), followed by rhododendrons later in the spring and early summer, hedgerows and scrub swathed in blackthorn blossom (below) and carpets of lesser celandine in woodland areas.

In some of the the more formally tended areas of the Heath, you’ll also find spring bulbs and other flowering plants. As well as being a colourful mood boost at this time of year, they are an invaluable source of early nectar for pollinators and insects. For instance, Heath Hands volunteers have been working hard to transform the Savernake Road bridge entrance to the Heath with a range of pollinator-friendly plants, which are labelled so that passers by can find out more and discover plants they might like to add to their own gardens to make them more wildlife-friendly. We’ve also planted three small fruit trees (plum, apple and apricot), which will bloom in sequence as spring progresses.

The Keats House Gardens near South End green (pictured below) are also a great place to visit for spring colour and inspiration. The volunteers there, working with the City of London garden team, have been working hard over a number of years to create a resilient garden, predominantly of native plants, in keeping with what would have been there when Keats was around.

In addition to these showy spring sights, the Heath has many hidden treasures to be found as all plants and trees adjust to the warmer temperatures and increased light. Many of our wildflower meadows, while being a spectacular summer sight, gradually start blooming at this time of year. If you’re out and about on the Heath, do check out the new meadow near the Hive and the one created by the City of London at the Heath Extension, both in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation and you’ll notice plants like red dead nettle making an early appearance.

If you look even more closely, you’ll notice that a whole range of plants and trees are coming into leaf and bloom. Our ‘Nature’s Calendar’ volunteer monitors do just that in the name of science, walking regular routes on the Heath tracking seasonal changes to trees, shrubs and plants on a joint project with the London Natural History Society. They keep an eye out for things like the first catkins on hazel, but will also notice the more discreet flowers of the larch or holly and keep track of first buds.

Paying very close attention to nature in this way is not only useful for gathering long-term ecological data on climate change (the ultimate aim of this project), but it also works as a form of mindfulness in nature - being very much in the present and paying attention to every detail, taking your mind away from the stresses of life, and our volunteers greatly value this time spent in close observation of nature.

Would you like to spend more time on the Heath this spring? Why not check out our regular health walks or our upcoming nature activities or nature mindfulness sessions or you could even join our nature calendar team - find out more info by emailing us.

Spring on the Heath

Ponds Landscaping Project