Northern Line Embankment, High Barnet

The Northern Line Embankment is a nature reserve stretching between Totteridge and High Barnet stations, consisting of low vegetation, brambles, and secondary woodland. Silver birch and sycamore trees dominate the slope and give the reserve its character.

The embankment was created during Northern Line construction in 1940, when London Underground extended services to High Barnet. This expansion was part of the Northern Heights project, which connected northwestern districts to the city center.

The embankment shows how London's railway development created habitats where nature could flourish alongside infrastructure. The vegetation grows undisturbed along the line and serves as a refuge for wildlife in this urban area.

You can view the reserve from the road bridge connecting Whetstone High Road to the Brook Farm Open Space car park or from the footbridge at Walfield Avenue. Remember that direct access is limited, so these bridges offer the best viewing points.

The embankment is home to one of the few common lizard colonies in Barnet, protected by limited access and the absence of pesticides. These reptiles find the crevices and dry spots on the slope ideal for shelter and breeding.