The Darlands Nature Reserve sits in the Totteridge Valley between the villages of Totteridge and Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. The 32 hectares (80 acres) of woodlands, wetlands, grasslands and the Darlands Lake are home to a diverse community of wildlife and boast some wonderful rural walks with spectacular views across the valley.
Works will soon begin to prepare for the long awaited de-silting of the lake.
Darlands Conservation Trust urgently needs your help to reach its funding target of £450,000 to make Darlands a wonderful place for people and wildlife.
There is a lot of work to do, restoring, creating and maintaining a mosaic of habitats to support a diverse assembly of wildlife and to ensure Darlands is a safe and enjoyable place to visit.
Darlands Lake has been silting up for many years and now regularly dries up. Urgent action is required to prevent its total loss. Environmentally sensitive excavation by specialists to produce a depth of water capable of supporting a much more diverse array of wildlife is now urgently required.
We are appealing to all who cherish Darlands to help us restore the lake as the centrepiece of Darlands and improve and maintain the rest of the reserve for future generations.
Whether you’re walking the dog, stretching your legs, looking to escape the hustle and bustle, connect with nature, be a wildlife watcher, explore the environment or just get some fresh air, Darlands is just the place.
Darlands has a mosaic of habitats, woodland, grassland, scrub, carr and open water. These provide food and shelter to a rich diversity of species. Some of these species are well recorded others less so.
Fungi on tree stump, Dead wood is a very important habitat
04/12/2008
© Dianne Murphy
Rabbits, Orytolagus cuniculus, grazing in the meadow
24/04/2009
© Dianne Murphy
Woodland flowers
24/04/2009
© Dianne Murphy
Darlands in the snow
© Caroline Stock
Caddis Fly Eggs, Trichoptera, are a group of insects whos larvae live in water, the adult fly lays clusters of eggs on leaves near water.
13/09/2018
© Dianne Murphy
Chicken of the woods Fungi, Laetiporus sulphureus
06/08/2018
© Dianne Murphy
Kestrel flying over Darlands, Falco tinnunculus
13/09/2018
© Dianne Murphy
Pyramidal Orchid, Anacamptis pyramidalis
27/06/2018
© Dianne Murphy
Snake's head fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris
05/04/2018
© Dianne Murphy
Large snowdrops near lake, Galanthus Plicatus Plicatus
14/02/2019
© Dianne Murphy
Speckled Wood Butterfly, Pararge aegeria
22/04/2018
© Dianne Murphy
Darlands Conservation Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation established by a group of local people who share a love for the Darlands nature reserve.