Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Hampstead Heath Ecologist introduced a report on monitoring activity undertaken primarily on native species which, although invaluable to wildlife, had the potential to spread to an unwanted degree. She noted that invasive species such as creeping thistle, ragwort, hogweed and bramble were all spreading on the Heath. She noted that whilst there was no legal requirement to manage the spread of such plants, a balance had to be struck between encouraging biodiversity and enabling public access. In response to a question from Colin Gregory on the potential use of herbicide, the Heath Ecologist replied that she was reluctant to utilize it too soon.