Loved-up Londoners, listen up. If you’re looking for the perfect spot to tie the knot; this historic horticultural haven might just do the trick. Highgate Wood is a 28-hectare ancient woodland that’s nestled between Highgate, Muswell Hill and East Finchley. And when we say ancient, we really do mean it.
Having been perched perfectly in North London for over 500 years, Highgate Wood is one of the few remaining fragments of the historic Forest of Middlesex – and it’s officially protected as a Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. So, it’s a pretty well-loved leafy green space.
And whilst we’re on the subject of love, the legendary London spot could soon be bursting at the seams with it, as the City of London Corporation are supposedly planning to welcome weddings to the woodland in a bid to generate additional income.
Weddings at Highgate Wood
The potential plans for Highgate Wood weddings were recently revealed in the City of London’s five-year business plan. The corporation have been the proud owners of the woodland since the 1880s, when they rescued it from being turned into houses. If the plans go ahead, people will be able to hire out Highgate Wood for their nuptials for the very first time.
Of course there are a few legal hoops that need to be jumped through in order to make the plans a reality. Licenses will need to be acquired and the City of London Corporation will need to ensure that letting people get hitched in Highgate Wood doesn’t clash with their legal responsibility to protect the space. Holding wedding ceremonies (and welcoming big old marquees and hundreds of people) could, of course, affect the woodland’s wildlife and biodiversity.
Highgate Wood is currently home to over 900 species of invertebrates, 350 species of fungi, 70 species of birds and a whole host of trees, shrubs and plant species. It’s also filled with beautiful bluebells, that would undeniably look blooming beautiful in wedding photos. Just saying…
You can have a browse of the City of London Corporation’s full five-year business plan for Highgate Wood here.