The southern part of the reserve (the Roundings) is a rare example of heathland and supports plants such as heather, heath bedstraw, tormentil and gorse amongst other heathland species.
Being a damp heathland there are a number of wet pools with sphagnum mosses and rushes, which provide habitat for dragonflies and damselflies. The ponds are home to good numbers of great crested and smooth newts too, and grass snakes and slow worms also live here.
The woodland area (Goldingtons) to the north of London Road, consists of mature hornbeam coppice and secondary oak and birch woodland. In the spring the woods have a good show of bluebells, whilst in summer, the woodland ponds provide a fine show of water plants including yellow flag iris.
Look out for great spotted woodpecker, long-tailed tit, nuthatch and tree creeper.
The best time to see the heather in flower is late summer, early autumn. The dragonflies display over the ponds throughout the summer months, particularly in early July.
The Trust's work at Hertford Heath
The Trust has a long-term management agreement with the owner, Haileybury College, and the reserve is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The management regime is designed to encourage a diversity of species. Work on the heath focuses on preventing scrub encroaching and maintaining the ponds.
