Monken Hadley Common

[3] The common is a large area of about 72 hectares (180 acres) between Monken Hadley and Cockfosters; it is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and wedge shaped, one-half mile (0.8 km) wide at the Monken Hadley end and tapering to a point at the Cockfosters end.

Holly forms a dense understorey in some places, while elsewhere a more diverse shrub layer includes Midland hawthorn and hazel.

Several ground flora species are ancient woodland indicators, suggesting that fragments have survived from before the time when the common was managed as wood-pasture.

Butterflies include white-letter and purple hairstreaks, and there are breeding birds such as sparrowhawk and tawny owl.

It is managed for angling[7] but supports common waterfowl and Daubenton's bats use it for feeding, foraging low over the water.