Being a Friend of Big Wood makes a big difference! There is a small annual membership fee, which goes entirely to support the woods.
The Friends of Big Wood Nature Reserve association exists to preserve, protect and improve this wonderful ancient woodland site, designated as a Nature Reserve by English Nature in 1999 and as a Local Nature Reserve by Barnet Council.
Located in northwest London's Hampstead Garden Suburb, Big Wood is owned by Barnet Council and managed in close cooperation with the Friends of Big Wood. Our volunteers work on the basis of an agreed expert-advised management plan, for the benefit of community, biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Big Wood is ecologically important with a considerable number of wild service trees and crab apples, as well as many other ancient woodland indicator species.
The Friends of Big Wood Committee organises specialist nature surveys, and holds expert-led walks and talks for the Friends on the many fascinating aspects of urban woodlands, including bat and dawn chorus bird walks and moth breakfasts (with proper tasty refreshments, not moths for breakfast!). We include the neighbouring Little Wood in ecological surveys as much as possible.
We also run Big Wood KIDS creative nature learning workshops for children and families, and hold special public events such as Open Mornings.
Practical Activity Mornings, where we look after the woodland glades, paths and nature recovery areas, are open to any interested FoBW volunteer on a drop in basis. They take place outside the active growing and breeding season, Jan to early March and Sep to Dec.
