Hampstead Ladies pond is trans-inclusive – so I’ll see you there

As a trans person, reading the news today felt like a rare win.

In the UK, a High Court judge has dismissed the legal challenge that gender-critical charity Sex Matters brought forward against the City of London Corporation, over its trans-inclusive rules at Hampstead Heath Ponds. 

In December 2025, Sex Matters claimed that the policy of allowing trans women to use the Hampstead Ladies Pond was sex discrimination – since they were using facilities that matched their gender identity not their biological sex.

So if a trans woman used women’s facilities, Sex Matters claimed it was unsafe for cisgender women.

However, just today Mrs Justice Lieven blocked the charity, stating that the ‘appropriate forum’ for the claim was the county court, not the High Court.

This ruling means trans people can continue to use the ponds in line with their lived gender before a final decision is due from the City of London Corporation.

I felt relief and joy hearing this – the dismissal is very welcomed.

It reaffirms the right of trans women to use the Ladies Pond and reflects the wishes of the vast majority of pond users.

A poll conducted by the City of London Corporation showed that around 90% of respondents wanted the ponds to remain trans-inclusive – and they have been for many years, with no reported issues.

But despite this, for years now, so-called ‘gender critical’ groups and protesters have attempted to have trans women barred from the Ladies’ Pond, repeatedly pushing an exclusionary agenda that has so far failed.

Their central argument, that anyone could simply ‘pretend’ to be a woman to access the Ladies’ Pond, is a tired trope.

It has long been used to oppose inclusion in a wide range of settings, yet is consistently unsupported by evidence.

However, Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association (KLPA) – a volunteer-led organisation responsible for the interests of Hampstead Heath – issues a statement last year, stating firmly that ‘the Ladies’ Pond is open to all women and girls over the age of eight and, according to the lifeguards, trans women have been swimming there for many years without incident.’

The fact that trans-inclusive access has existed for so long without any issues speaks for itself. It exposes how little substance there is to the claims being made by anti-trans campaigners.

We should offer protections from bad actors – whoever they are. 

If anyone – trans or cis – does anything to make someone feel unsafe, an organisation’s staff need to be empowered to intervene and make judgement calls where necessary, rather than policies being shaped around imagined worst-case scenarios.

Of course when someone does something illegal, the authorities must be alerted, but trans people’s ability to access spaces safely should not be held hostage to hypothetical situations, especially not when a consultation showed such support for the existing arrangements. 

Across the UK, countless service providers have operated trans-inclusive policies for decades without issue. 

The sudden panic around this, to me, feels entirely manufactured. And any claims about ‘safety’ and ‘risk’ fall apart under scrutiny. 

With bathrooms, another hobby horse of anti-trans movements, evidence has suggested that trans inclusion does not increase risk.

What we are really seeing here is not a safeguarding concern, but textbook transphobia dressed up as one – and this transphobia has been on the increase since the Supreme Court ruling back in April 2025.

Since today’s dismissal, Sex Matters has released a statement saying that ‘the fight for women’s safety, privacy and dignity in single-sex spaces will continue’.

But I’m tired of feeling targeted by this fight as a trans person. 

Decisions must be rooted in evidence, common sense, and dignity.

As someone who has used the Ladies’ Pond myself, I am glad that it will remain an inclusive and safe space for all women. 

Hampstead Heath standing firm on its inclusive policies matters – and today’s decision sets a precedent worth defending.

That should be the baseline. 

Trans inclusion is not radical, dangerous, or experimental — it is established, evidence-based, and in this case, supported by the people who actually use the space.

It’s been the case for years in the UK, and this concentrated effort to push us out of public life is not rooted in anything except bigotry, in my mind.

The continued fixation on excluding trans women says far more about the campaigners than it does about the ponds.

Trans people belong in public life and in public spaces – we shouldn’t have to beg for the tiniest bit of respect and dignity, and Hampstead Heath Ponds have shown what it is to be a true ally in times of backlash against human rights.

I doubt this will be the last we hear about trans inclusion in Hampstead Heath Ponds, but at least for now, it remains a place where everyone is welcome. 

I’ll see you at the Ladies’ Pond.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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