The City of London Corporation has appointed the first female Superintendent to manage Hampstead Heath.

Stefania Horne will begin the role in January 2022 and will also run Golders Hill Park, Highgate Wood, Queen’s Park and Keats House.

An experienced conservation, green spaces and public services manager, Stefania joins from the London Borough of Hounslow, where she was Head of Parks and Sport.

She has previously held roles at the London Borough of Redbridge, the Wildlife Trust, and the Forestry Commission and has worked in partnership with the Greater London Authority.

As Vice Chair of the Parks Management Association and an Executive Member of the Chief Leisure Officers Association, Stefania will bring significant sector experience to the role.

The Superintendent works with two main governance bodies to ensure the Heath is managed in an open and inclusive way:

1. The Hampstead Heath Management Committee, which includes elected representatives from the City Corporation, Camden and Barnet councils, English Heritage, RSPB, the Open Spaces Society and the Heath & Hampstead Society.

1. The Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee, which comprises 19 different local and user groups including the Heath & Hampstead Society and the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, Anne Fairweather, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Stefania to head up our important work at Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park. These spaces are well loved and enjoyed by millions of people across the capital.

“They are playing an important role in the health and wellbeing of our local communities and Londoners alike.

“With Stefania’s broad experience and the deep knowledge of colleagues on the ground we can look forward to continued success in the years ahead.”

Incoming Superintendent, Stefania Horne, said:

“I am thrilled to join the City of London Corporation with their prestigious green spaces, cultural offer and sporting venues.

“I can’t wait to meet colleagues, volunteers, partner organisations and community stakeholders to work together to realise our vision and aspirations for Hampstead Heath.”

Hampstead Heath is one of London's most popular open spaces, attracting almost 10 million visits a year. 

The beauty spot is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and recognised for containing some of the best examples of the capital’s habitats, including rare and important species which are of particular significance within a heavily built-up area of London.

Hampstead Heath is a registered charity, funded by revenue generated through services, grants, donations and over £6m a year from the City Corporation.

The City Corporation protects over 11,000 acres of open space in London and south east England – including Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches - and over 200 smaller ones in the Square Mile, investing more than £40m a year.

These sites, most of which are charitable trusts, are run at little or no cost to the communities that they serve. They include important wildlife habitats, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and National Nature Reserves. They are protected from being built on by special legislation.