Enfield’s Blue and Green

Strategy Valuing our parks, trees, open spaces, routes and watercourses

This strategy aims to establish Enfield as a centre of excellence in the management and promotion of blue and green spaces in London, helping to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change, improve health outcomes, encourage social interaction/physical activity, contribute to nature recovery and reduce inequalities.

The strategy covers all forms of blue and green cover in Enfield, ranging from large country parks and waterbodies to pocket parks, public art installations, street verges, trees and sustainable drainage system. Key highlights include:

• a commitment to move from net loss to net gain of open space and biodiversity; • new targets and standards to guide open space provision, habitat creation and urban greening, targeting the most deficient areas (e.g. Edmonton and ); • work to restore Enfield’s water-spaces, creating healthy rivers with abundant wildlife, more resilient to flooding and drought; • active management of our parks and open spaces to support our cultural agenda, with leisure activities that attract visitors (including festivals and outdoor events); • work to better reveal the unique significance of our historic parks and gardens; • making our streets and public spaces accessible to everyone through positive enhancements (e.g. new active travel routes and public parks) to anchor new developments, such as Meridian Water; and • The creation of a new ‘green loop’ from the open countryside into the heart of our town centres and densely built-up-areas along river corridors and strategic links. we will gmmmmet there Enfield Council have sent out their ‘Blue and Green Strategy Document along with a ‘Review of the Enfield Biodiversity Plan’ and a ‘Review of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation’ and requested that groups and individuals take part in a consultation survey (completion date 11th January 2021).

The aims of this strategy, I am sure, will be welcomed by many and has been given added relevance by our current Covid predicament and future threat of climate change. There is a lot of reading in the three documents, I have looked through and picked out the few specific references to Broomfield Park:

Section 2 - Borough Portrait - Strengths; Weaknesses; Opportunities and threats It is listed among Threats: ‘some historic parks and gardens are on the national register of heritage at risk and require careful restoration.’

Section 4.2 - Infrastructure Framework: ‘Corridors (otherwise known as the ‘green lungs’ of the borough) connect to the nodes and strategic links of the wider network and offer significant opportunities to increase green cover and improve access to existing assets.’ Our suggested corridor is ‘: , , Broomfield Park, Arnos Park, Cemetery and .’

Section 4.4.30 - Emerging priorities & areas of change ‘Other important areas of publicly accessible open space include Broomfield Park but there are limited opportunities to diversify existing open spaces within , Bush Hill Park and Winchmore Hill to alleviate the identified deficiencies, such as children’s playspace and food-growing land.’

Broomfield Park was included in the ‘Review of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation’ (SINC).

It is one of three that were identified as ‘opportunity sites, which with further management and establishment of habitats could be considered for upgrade in the future.’

‘It is considered that the Site could be upgraded to a higher designation with further management and enhancement measures. This is due to the variety of habitats present, the size of the Site, and opportunities provided.’

Review of the Enfield Biodiversity Action Plan Broomfield Park was identified as among ‘sites of local interest’ (SLI). ‘The site is of a significant size, supports a wide variety of habitats, offers features of historical and cultural value, offers the provision of sport, communal allotments, and an opportunity for locals to engage with nature. It is considered that these features, in combination with additional enhancement measures incorporated within the current management plan, then it could be upgraded to Borough importance.’

Although recognizing the park and gardens (and baroque water gardens) as important in heritage terms and the designation of SINC and an SLI there is little in the documents to suggest that Broomfield Park will be seen as a priority for development.

Importantly in the SINC review it is concluded that “if an appropriate management plan is implemented that allows for the establishment of more structural and species diverse habitats, which provides opportunities for a wider range of species, including protected and notable species, there is potential for the site to be considered as a borough grade SINC in the future. Due to the extent of the site, there is potential for this site to be of key significance for wildlife in the borough if habitats within the site are managed appropriately. Recommendations for future management include: • Creation/continued promotion of species-rich meadow. This may require fencing off areas, sowing seeds etc. • Inclusion of aquatic native species planting • Bird/bat boxes on mature trees • Wildlife friendly planting to provide additional opportunities for invertebrates.

It is disappointing that there is little apparent recognition of the activities of FoBP and other local volunteers in these areas, in fact all four of the recommendations listed above are already in place along with many other contributions to biodiversity and habitat as documented in the report we published on our website in March 2020 (copy sent to Enfield Council). https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/44583aa5/files/uploaded/FoBP%20Env%3AClimMasterKL%24%20copy%203.pdf This may require fencing off areas, sowing seeds etc. creation/continued promotion of species-rich meadow. This may require

I would suggest that local voices might consider raising this in the survey, some important areas to consider might include:

• Restoration of the Model Boating Pond and the freshwater supply from the well to feed into Pymmes Brook through the lower ponds and Wetland. • Restoration and development of the ‘Baroque Water Gardens’ and the historic Walled Gardens. • The development of the Bowling Green and Clubhouse as a hub for local cultural community events, school and other educational group activities. • Completion of the Wetland project with pathways, seating and other amenities as provided in Firs Farm and Enfield Town Wetlands. • Following an agreed mowing plan to support the development of species-rich meadowland, and protect the surface roots of veteran trees. • The development of native hedgerow and a diverse tree landscape.

We have a large and active community of volunteers with developing expertise and enthusiasm who can work with the council and other groups to support the aims of the Enfield Blue and Green Strategy. There is a rapidly growing local community who can benefit from the engagement with nature, cultural and historic features, the exercise and health opportunities in Broomfield Park. Let’s push to raise our profile to be included in the investment offered in this plan and perhaps specifically to be upgraded to a borough grade SINC. https://www.friendsofbroomfieldpark.org

Kim Lumley Co-Chair FoBP