Description
Little Wood has existed as woodland for over 1000 years, probably part of land given to the Bishop of London in c704AD. When Hampstead Garden Suburb was being planned in 1907, its instigator, Dame Henrietta Barnett, was committed to providing green spaces within the housing, planting trees and preserving those that existed. When additional land was acquired to extend the Suburb in 1911, Little Wood was leased from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and preserved as woodland. In 1920 an open air amphitheatre was built in the woods by the Play and Pageant Union, one of two drama groups that later merged to form the Garden Suburb Theatre. The theatre was restored in 1997. In 1933 Finchley UDC took on the freehold of the woods. Now designated a Nature Reserve, there are a variety of trees including Wild Service Trees associated with ancient woodland, although the trees here are generally no more than 175 years old.
Practical Information
| Site location | Denman Drive North/Oakwood Road/Addison Way |
|---|---|
| Postcode | NW11 6QS |
| What3Words | ///scrap.grapes.guards |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Barnet |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Events | summer theatre |
| Public Transport | Tube: Golders Green (Northern) then bus. Bus: 102, 82, 260, H2. |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2009 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
With Big Wood (q.v.), Little Wood has existed as woodland for over a thousand years, once part of a much larger area of woodland extending to Mutton Brook. It was probably part of the land given by the Bishop of Hereford to the Bishop of London in c.704 and continued in the ownership of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners until 1933. In 1754 the two woods were practically joined but for at least 230 years they have been separate. The western boundary of Little Wood marked the edge of the Bishop's estate. The trees in Little Wood are generally no more than 175 years old. When Hampstead Garden Suburb was being planned and laid out, both woods were preserved, at that time surrounded by fields. Dame Henrietta Barnett was committed to the provision of green spaces within the new housing, planting a considerable number of street trees and preserving existing ones. The original suburb to the south of the wood was built from 1907 and in 1911, when a further 112 acres were purchased for an extension, the 'New Suburb', also laid out by Unwin for the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust, Little Wood was leased from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. In 1933 the freehold transferred to the Finchley Urban District Council, which in 1964 became part of the London Borough of Barnet.
In 1920 an open air amphitheatre was built in the woods by the Play and Pageant Union, one of two drama groups that merged in 1966 to form the Garden Suburb Theatre. The theatre was restored in 1997 and is used for performances in the summer by the Garden Suburb Theatre. A wide variety of trees is present including those associated with ancient woodland such as wild service trees and crab apple, and also oak, beech, hawthorn, rowan, hazel, wild cherry, elder, yew and holly, with more recent planting of ornamental shrubs.
In 1920 an open air amphitheatre was built in the woods by the Play and Pageant Union, one of two drama groups that merged in 1966 to form the Garden Suburb Theatre. The theatre was restored in 1997 and is used for performances in the summer by the Garden Suburb Theatre. A wide variety of trees is present including those associated with ancient woodland such as wild service trees and crab apple, and also oak, beech, hawthorn, rowan, hazel, wild cherry, elder, yew and holly, with more recent planting of ornamental shrubs.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ253890 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.2 |
| Site Ownership | LB Barnet |
| Site Management | Leisure and Youth Services, Green Spaces Division. Big Wood and Little Wood Management Group/Friends of Big Wood and Little Wood |
| Dates | ancient woodland; 1911 on |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Barnet |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Hampstead Garden Suburb |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance I (with Big Wood) |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Small Local Park. Article 4 Direction; Green Chain; Metropolitan Walk |
Gallery
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Hampstead Garden Suburb was conceived by Dame Henrietta Barnett in 1903 when the area, hitherto rural, became ripe for development. Her aim was to provide a garden suburb for the working classes, with some larger houses as well as amenities. The overall layout was the work of Raymond Unwin. The street pattern followed the land contours, with curving and straight roads to create interesting viewpoints, closes and squares, street trees, a pedestrian network of footpaths and a variety of green spaces. Willifield Green was laid out as part of the first phase of development, largely built between 1907 -1912, and consists of an expanse of grass with trees and shrubs, low wooden posts to the road. Set behind the green are artisans cottages built in 1909 for the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company.
Big Wood has existed as woodland for over 1000 years, probably part of land given to the Bishop of London in c704AD. When Hampstead Garden Suburb was being planned in 1907, its instigator, Dame Henrietta Barnett, was committed to providing green spaces within the housing, planting trees and preserving those that existed. When additional land was acquired to extend the Suburb in 1911, Big Wood was leased from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and preserved as woodland. In 1933 Finchley UDC took on the freehold. Now designated a Nature Reserve, there are a great variety of trees here including Wild Service Trees, associated with ancient woodland.
Northway Gardens is a linear park comprising three areas of gardens through which the Mutton Brook runs in a channel, lined in parts by weeping willows. It was laid out as part of the 'New Suburb' developed from 1911 when 112 acres of land were purchased to the east of the original Hampstead Garden Suburb. The gardens have woodland and grass to the west, formal gardens and tennis courts in the middle area, and ornamental shrubs and trees in the most easterly section.
