Dr Mark Spencer warns of homes threat to ‘secret’ garden’s rare plants

Published: 26 February 2010
by PETER GRUNER

ONE of London’s leading wildlife experts is opposing plans to bulldoze a 140-year-old “secret” back garden in Highbury.

Dr Mark Spencer, a botanist with London Natural History Society, has warned that rare plants will be lost forever if the garden is dug up under plans to redevelop the former National Children’s Home (NCH) in Highbury Park.

Among the rare species he has identified at the garden is trailing St John’s wort (Hypericum humifusum), a member of the plant family used as an alternative treatment for depression.

The pretty yellow flowering plant is said to be very rare in London. According to Dr Spencer, this is the first known record of it growing in Islington.

The overgrown garden, less than half an acre and nestling be­tween office buildings, was discovered by residents visiting the NCH last year during an exhibition of plans for the site, as reported in the Tribune at the time.

Rare fungi, insects such as yellow ants and green woodpeckers have been seen in the garden.
The plans are to demolish buildings, currently being used by the charity Action for Children, and dig up the garden to build 150 flats and houses. Islington planners have already thrown out proposals for the site following public consultations which raised concerns about the environment.

But plans are expected to be resubmitted later this year. Developers have so far refused pleas by residents to save the garden.

Dr Spencer, who visited the site on behalf of campaigners, said he was impressed by the rich diversity of wildlife species.
“The trailing St John’s wort is a very exciting find,” he said. “Sadly, it is not legally protected, nor is it particularly rare nationally. But it has never been reported before in Islington, based on records going back several hundred years.”

Dr Spencer said that, while planners were often anxious to protect woodland sites, small unspoilt grasslands like the one at Highbury Park were sometimes considered not important enough to save.
“We’ve lost far more good-quality grassland habitats than ancient woodlands in England in the last 50 years,” he said. “This is a site that is definitely worth saving. It’s probably unchanged since the 1850s and far more special for species than your average piece of grass which has been turned into a football pitch.”

He said that with careful nurturing the garden would make a perfect wildflower mead­­ow.

Action for Children, which wants to develop the site, acknowledged that there would be building on the garden.

A spokesman said: “The proposals will open up this private and inaccessible land to the community. The scheme will provide a new 0.4 hectare open space, including a new play area for young children.
“All the trees along the boundaries will be retained and there will be a new public path between Lucerne Road and Legard Road. In addition, there will be new trees, bird boxes, green roofs, and native plant species to increase the bio-diversity of the area.
“This is a major opportunity to create a high-quality development including 140-150 new homes, half of which will be three- and four-bed family housing.”