BBC News
By Rebecca Cafe
image copyrightGetty Images
image captionThe Hampstead Heath Act of 1871 set out how the land should be managed, decreeing that it must be preserved in its natural state and not be "manicured"
Hampstead Heath, a tranquil piece of countryside in the vast sprawl of London, has long been one of the capital's most cherished public spaces.
Popular with swimmers, nature lovers and many an author - CS Lewis is said to have been inspired to write The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe while walking there on a snowy day - the land was granted protected status 150 years ago.