The High Court has refused gender-critical non-profit Sex Matters permission to challenge the City of London Corporation (CoCL) over trans inclusion at Hampstead Heath ponds. Opened in 1926, Kenwood Ladies’, Highgate Men’s, and Hampstead Mixed ponds in the north London beauty spot have long been inclusive of trans people, with the CoCL formally acknowledging trans people’s right to swim in the single-sex ponds back in 2019. Sex Matters in turn accused the CoLC of “trying out an extraordinary manoeuvre”, with the group’s founder, Maya Forstater, telling The Times it was “nothing more than linguistic trickery”. “The corporation claims that, because it chooses to define “women” and “men” according not to biological sex but to who wants to be referred to as ‘she’ or ‘he’, the Supreme Court judgement doesn’t apply,” Forstater said. “The Act envisages cases brought by individuals in the County Court, in a forum where facts can be fully considered and appraised.