Harry the hermit feels so happy to be fenced in

IT may not compare to the vast gates adorning the houses of his wealthy neighbours, but a simple new wooden fence has made Hampstead’s Harry the Hermit very happy.

The fence surrounds a 90ft by 90ft patch of land on the fringes of Hampstead Heath where Harry Hallowes, 69 (pictured), has his shack. It was put up by developer Dwyer, which bought the land in January last year.

Mr Hallowes said: “It is more secure now. I used to come back sometimes and find things were missing. But they were not things that had been given to me personally so I didn’t mind too much.”

Mr Hallowes, originally from County Sligo in Ireland, hit the headlines in March last year when he turned down the chance to claim squatters’ rights on the patch of land, which estate agents say could be worth up to £2 million.

Instead, under the terms of a planning agreement with the Town Hall, Dwyer has donated land, including Mr Hallowes’ patch with his 12ft by 8ft shack, to Heath guardian the City of London. It will be converted into a wildlife reserve later this year.