Brent Reservoir from Neasden Recreation Ground

Greater London is one of the largest urban areas in Europe, with an area of 1,572 km² (607 sq mi). Its boundaries were set in 1965 when Greater London, which covers the 32 London boroughs and the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...

, was created. Almost two-thirds of it is green space and wetlands. Its population according to the 2011 census was 8.17 million. Local nature reserve (LNR) is a statutory designation by local authorities which gives protection to wildlife habitats and natural features. It allows local authorities to apply local bye-laws to manage and protect sites. The local authority must have a legal interest in the site, by owning or leasing it or having a nature reserve agreement with the owner. As of January 2016,

Natural England Natural England is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, ...

gives details of 144 local nature reserves declared by local authorities in Greater London, which are listed below. The largest site, at , is

Brent Reservoir The Brent Reservoir (popularly called the Welsh Harp) is a reservoir in North West London. It straddles the boundary between the boroughs of Brent and Barnet and is owned by the Canal & River Trust. The reservoir takes its informal name from a p ...

, most of which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its breeding wetland birds, especially

great crested grebe The great crested grebe (''Podiceps cristatus'') is a member of the grebe family of water birds noted for its elaborate mating display. Taxonomy The great crested grebe was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in t ...

s, and for its marsh plant life. The smallest is Burnt Ash Pond at , an old farm pond in the middle of a residential area. The longest is

Parkland Walk The Parkland Walk is a linear green pedestrian and cycle route in London, which follows the course of the railway line that used to run between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace, through Stroud Green, Crouch End, Highgate and Muswell Hill. It ...

, a linear site of along the route of an old railway line. Perivale Wood is one of the oldest nature reserves in Britain. It has been managed by the Selborne Society since 1902, and was designated an LNR in 1974. The newest LNRs are Coldfall Wood, Alexandra Palace and Park and Masons Field, all declared in 2013. Several sites, including

Camley Street Natural Park Camley Street Natural Park is an urban nature reserve in St Pancras in central London and within the London Borough of Camden. It is a local nature reserve. The park was closed to the public for reconstruction in December 2017 and reopened in ...

in Kings Cross and Frays Valley, are managed by the

London Wildlife Trust London Wildlife Trust (LWT), founded in 1981, is a local nature conservation charity for Greater London. It is one of 46 members of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (known as The Wildlife Trusts), each of which is a local nature conservatio ...

Sites

Map of London boroughs

Notes

References

External links

LNR Designated Sites list for Greater London at Natural England
{{featured list Greater London *

Local Local may refer to: Geography and transportation * Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand * Local, Missouri, a community in the United States * Local government, a form of public administration, usually the lowest tier of administrat ...

Sites

Map of London boroughs

See also

Notes

References

External links