Bill Oddie fears sheep rustling on Hampstead Heath The Telegraph reports. Plans to graze sheep on Hampstead Heath are in doubt because of fears the animals will be ‘stolen for Sunday roasts’.
The City of London Corporation, which manage the upmarket area, wants to return sheep to the heath as ‘natural lawnmowers’ that keep the grass down while maintaining wildlife.
The last time sheep were grazed on the 790-heath was in 1959.
The Countryside Agency have published maps showing the land (including commons) to which the public have access in this locality.
Rights of common can include:
grazing sheep or cattle (herbage)
taking peat or turf (turbary)
taking wood, gorse or furze (estovers)
taking of fish (piscary)
eating of acorns or beechmast by pigs (pannage)
There is no better way to spend a perfect summer’s evening than at one of the English Heritage Picnic Concerts. Gather a group of friends and family and enjoy the world-class music, relaxed atmosphere and breathtaking settings of Kenwood House and Audley End.
Hampstead Heaths Kenwood House Picnic Proms have announced the line up for this years prom season; Rufus Wainwright, Will Young and Jamie Cullum will take to the stage at this year’s Kenwood Picnic Concerts, it has been announced.
The concerts, which take place on Hampstead Heath throughout the summer will kick off on June 26 with an as yet unnamed performer.
Rufus Wainwright will make his second Kenwood appearance on July 3, followed by jazz singer Diana Krall on July 10 and Pop Idol Will Young on July 17.The performer on July 31 is yet to be named.
On August 7, violinist Diana Yukawa and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will perform Vivaldi’s enchanting masterpiece Four Seasons on August 7 and jazz musician Jamie Cullum takes to the stage on August 14.
The final concert of the season is on August 21 with the Last Night of the Kenwood Proms with Britain’s Got Talent star Faryl Smith and acclaimed tenor Wynne Evans, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra. The evening will culminate with a dramatic firework finale to bring the curtain down on Kenwood 2010.
51 terrapins and turtles, from five different species, were recently removed from a single pond in a north London park after the local authority called in a specialist trapper. Two years ago, a colony of 150 of the creatures was removed from the 25 ponds on Hampstead Heath and re-homed at a sanctuary in Tuscany.
The result is a double headache for conservation groups as they try to control the problem by trapping and removing the unwanted invaders but struggle to find new homes for the captives because of their longevity (some species can live for up to 50 years) and the costs of running a dedicated aquarium. One sanctuary receives unwanted animal at a rate of six a week.
John Baker, of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) Trust, said: “When these animals are bought as babies they seem attractive pets. But they grow to a significant size and people think it is OK to take them to their nearest body of water and release them into places where they prey on native species and can spread disease.
Rogue cyclists, who have chosen the wrong path, have been targeted in a crackdown by Hampstead Heath bosses.
Two riders have been successfully prosecuted this week for cycling on a path where bikes are banned.
A Kentish Town woman was penalised for riding on the path which leads from Highgate Ponds past the children’s play area and a Muswell Hill man was prosecuted for breaking bylaw 13 for cycling on a path near the Lido.
At Highbury Corner Magistrates Court last week both were fined £25, ordered to pay £100 costs and victim surcharge of £15. They were given two weeks to pay up.
A City of London spokesman said: “Cycling on the Heath on prohibited paths is completely unacceptable and these successful prosecutions should send a message to cyclists that it will not be tolerated.” The issue of cycling on the Heath has been a hot topic for a long time with many riders campaigning for more paths to be opened up for their use.
The unofficial Lord Of The Rings prequel made by a crew of British amateur film- makers for just £3,000 has become a huge hit.
To date, more than four million fans worldwide have logged on to the internet to watch The Hunt For Gollum
They created a glossy look using digital hand-held cameras and CGI special effects to superimpose an alpine background on scenes filmed in Snowdonia, Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath.
Love Parks Week is an annual campaign, organised by parks charity GreenSpace. Founded in 2006, the campaign has grown steadily and is now established as a major event that is celebrated in parks across the country. Each year hundreds of events take place, attracting extensive media coverage and enabling thousands of people to get out and enjoy their parks.
Love Parks Week 2009 will take place between Saturday 25 July and Sunday 2 August. This year we are asking as many people as possible to get into parks to join our campaign for continued investment and support for these valuable assets. By holding an event in a park, or even just attending one, you will be helping to send the message that parks are an essential part of every community
There are a variety of events on the Heath,including fishing lessons, Mr Tickle and Teddy Bears picnic for the children, guided tours and if you want to learn more about butterflies (at Butterfly House, Golders Hill Park, NW11) – it’s all free.
LOVE PARKS
In all this warm weather what you need to know about Hampstead is where you can cool down. The Parliament Hill Lido on Hampstead Heath was upgraded recently with a new stainless steel lining which it is hoped will aid the retention of heat. The pool is 60 metres x 28 metres pool and from its elevated position you have the famous views over the city of London.
If you prefer a more natural(I mean nude) and sometimes less busy cool down on a hot London day try out the Hampstead Heath Swimming ponds; one for men, one for the ladies and a mixed pool. The ladies pool is the cleanest as it is at the top of the hill and the source of the natural spring which feeds the ponds. All bathing costs £2for adults and £1 for concessions.
NEW parking proposals have incensed people who go to Hampstead Heath by car to walk and enjoy the facilities around Kenwood House.
Plans for a controlled parking zone (CPZ) have been branded a “stealth tax” by residents and Heath users say accessibility to the parkland will be hindered.
Haringey Council’s plan is to extend the CPZ operating around Highgate Station to include Hampstead Lane, Bishopswood Road, Sheldon Avenue and other surrounding streets. It would stop everyone except residents parking between 10am and noon, which Heath users say punishes people who come from far and wide.
Manager of the Brew House at Kenwood Simon Dodd said: “We feel very strongly about this and we are going to make a big protest as are all the regulars, who are up in arms.
“Not only is it a ridiculous idea but they put the sign up telling people about it in a side road – not on Hampstead Lane where it should be.
“We will be affected by it massively. We are very angry and upset. There are quite a number of regulars who always come during that time and they are understandably very upset.”
HAM&HIGH
The Ham and High reports that hundreds of campaigners including Julian Clary and human rights protestor Peter Tatchell are backing a scheme to increase the area for nude male sunbathing on Hampstead Heath.
A petition with more than 1,000 signatures will be presented to the new Chairman of the Heath today (Thursday) calling for greater space for the naturists, expanding the small concrete plot they currently use next to the changing room at the men’s swimming pond.
The campaign appeared in its early days on the letters pages of the Ham&High last May, when naturist Michael Peacock complained about the lack of space.
Now, a year on, he is hoping he has enough public and celebrity support to free the nudists. A total of 1,061 people are now backing his bid, which will be presented to the new chairman of the Heath Management Committee, Michael Welbank, at the bathing enclosure this morning.
But the move is unlikely to go unopposed and looks set to pit the nudists against conservationists and more traditional swimmers who want visitors to keep covered up.
