The official account of Highgate Wood 🍄🟫
A stunning ancient woodland with rich wildlife, sports and community events, hidden away in North London.
26/05/2026
Nine great spotted woodpecker nest sites have been recorded in the wood so far this spring, plus an exciting visit from a green woodpecker to the wildflower meadow, where it ate some ants!
Swipe to see and hear what we’ve ‘spotted’ so far 🪶💚
This moving structure is a fascinating piece of nature!
It is the cocoon of a tiny parasitic wasp. Female wasps inject a single egg into clover leaf weevil larvae. As the wasp offspring develops, it feeds on the weevil from the inside out.
Once the wasp finishes developing, it spins this interesting, tough, small structure. The wasp then moves by lunging around inside the cocoon, before pupating and emerging as an adult!
17/05/2026
In our wildflower meadow, you may spot some of these little mounds... they're ant hills!
If you look closely, you'll find that these ant hills have holes and divots in them. These are made by green woodpeckers, which land and peck into the hills to feed on the ants. Next time you're in Highgate Wood, make sure to take a look!🐜🌻
14/05/2026
Come along to our summer guided walks! Discover the biodiversity and nature that Highgate Wood has to offer, with special insights from our staff 🍃
*Bat Watch walks cost £11.30 and must be booked in advance. To book, visit: www.eventbrite.highgatewood
All other events are free and no booking required.
All walks start at the information hut next to the café.
The 8 blue tit chicks are getting bigger!
They're still in their nest box, but now with open eyes and feathers 🪶💚
You can watch a live stream of the chicks as they grow on a screen next to the Children's Playground (WhatThreeWords: ///kinds.shares.rated)
Our rangers run excellent guided walks around the wood! Haven’t been yet? This Saturday is your chance 🌳
Our next walk will be a Tree ID walk on May 9 at 11am. Meet at the information hut next to the cafe - wear a good pair of walking shoes and bring some water 👏💚
9 blue tit chicks have hatched in our nest box! You can come and watch them on a live feed screen next to the children’s playground 👏🪶🐣
01/05/2026
📣Spring guided walk at Highate Wood happening tomorrow at 11am (May 2)
The wood is looking beautiful in the spring sunshine, and the honey bees are loving it. Flowers are blooming everywhere you look, and the sound of the birds and insects is incredible! If you can't join us for a guided walk tomorrow morning, be sure to come by for a walk soon 💚
Our team have been working incredibly hard - with some brilliant help from volunteers - to create a bigger and better wildflower meadow 🪻🌼
This meadow will help support a range of wildlife, including ecologically important pollinators and birds. Next time you visit us for a walk, check the site out!