• New wildlife sanctuary to protect nesting birds and boost biodiversity
• 100m² of reedbeds and wildflower habitat
• Over £50,000 raised through public donations

A project to transform part of a Hampstead Heath pond into a dedicated wildlife sanctuary is now underway, in a wider effort to boost biodiversity and protect nesting species.

The City of London Corporation, which manages the Heath as a registered charity, will remove the land causeway currently linking an island in the Model Boating Pond to the shore. 

Once complete, the island will become a fully separated sanctuary and will provide a safe haven for wildlife, as it won’t be accessible to people or pets.

The project has been made possible through generous public support and charitable fundraising, with over £50,000 raised to help bring the sanctuary to life.

The completed scheme will also see nearly 100 square metres of new reedbeds – funded through the City Corporation’s own Climate Action Strategy – along with wildflower planting, and will provide new habitats for wetland birds, amphibians and reptiles. 

Temporary fencing will protect sensitive areas while these habitats establish.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, Alderman Gregory Jones KC, said:

“This important project will create a peaceful sanctuary for wetland birds, right in the heart of Hampstead Heath.

“By removing the causeway, we’re giving species like mallard, coot, grebe, and swan a safe space to feed, rest, and nest – free from human disturbance. It’s a place they already use, and soon they’ll have it all to themselves.

“We’re also planting new reedbed habitat, supporting nationally important ecosystems that enhance biodiversity and add to the Heath’s natural beauty. As they grow, the reeds will absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their stems, roots, and surrounding soils, locking carbon away naturally over time.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported this project. Your generosity is helping our Charity protect and enhance the Heath’s remarkable biodiversity. I also want to thank our staff, whose hard work, time, and commitment go a long way in bringing these projects to life.”

John Beyer, Chair of the Heath & Hampstead Society added: 

“We’ve long championed the idea of transforming the Model Boating Pond island into a true wildlife haven. Removing the causeway will allow nature to flourish with fewer disturbances, and we are delighted to see this vision becoming a reality. 

“Our contribution has been practical as well as vocal — Society members helped raise the majority of the funds needed to move this important project forward. 

“We hope that, in time, visitors to the Heath will have more opportunities to glimpse rarely seen species such as Woodcock and Snipe, alongside familiar favourites like Coots and Moorhens, thriving in this enhanced sanctuary.” 

The island as it appears today was created during essential flood management works in 2016, and quickly became home to nesting coots, moorhens, grebes and herons. 

Hampstead Heath is one of the capital’s most loved open spaces, attracting over 10 million visits a year. It is home to over 800 species of flora and fauna and forms part of a network of 11,000 acres of open space protected by the City Corporation across London and southeast England.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

The project is expected to last four weeks, depending on weather conditions. 

For more information visit – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/hampstead-heath-wildlife/model-boating-pond-island-restoration.