Mortimer Terrace Nature Reserve can be found on  the land between Gordon House Road and the railway line between Gospel Oak station and Upper Holloway. In 1897, when the railway line was built, a covenant was made to ensure this land remained undeveloped as a buffer to protect residents from pollution ‘in perpetuity’. More recently the land became part of a two piece parcel of land which was bought from Camden by developer Mark Fitzpatrick. After developing one part of the site (now Apostle’s Lodge), Mark Fitzpatrick also agreed to grant a ten year lease in 1987 to use the area as a nature reserve. 

Jeanne Pendrill and a dedicated group of volunteers have looked after this site for the last 35 years. At first with the help of the London Wildlife Trust they turned it into an haven of biodiversity. In 2014 it was formally designated an Asset of Community Value with Camden Council and soon after the Mortimer Terrace Nature Reserve Trust was established to help protect and manage the site. There were monthly workdays open to the wider community, regular visits from local primary schools and other valuable contributions from organisations like the Green Gym. Despite this obvious love and commitment from the local community, unfortunately after a series of shorter leases, followed by a tenancy at will agreement, the family of Mark Fitzpatrick decided to try to sell the land to property developers in 2019.

In 2019 a lengthy and exhausting four year campaign ensued led by Jeanne Pendrill, Terry Reynolds, Camden Community Makers CLT, and supported by the DPNF and other MTNR trustees. Such was the strength of local community opposition, that we successfully got it withdrawn from auction on the first occasion. When the Fitzpatrick passed ownership of the site onto a Mr Hamburger, who then leased the site to a forest school and put the site back up for auction, despite selling being blocked by its ACV status, the strength of feeling, and media scrutiny helped Camden Council and our local councillor Anna Wright to acknowledge its value as a nature reserve that should not be developed.  The Council then stepped in and offered purchase the site before gifting the site to the MTNR trustees so the reserve can once more be protected in perpetuity. The trustees of the nature reserve are now waiting to complete this handover.

HM Registry Title No NGL553590