Friends of Enfield Chase is pleased to be working with Enfield Council, Thanes21 and other partners: building upon the the work already done to restore Enfield Chase for wildlife and people. It aims to:
- Attract visitors through better infrastructure and an exciting programme of events and activities
- Create more publicly accessible areas in the rural parts of Enfield
- Restore heavily modified rivers (the Salmons Brook and Turkey Brook) to a more natural state
- Reduce flooding downstream in the urban parts of the borough like Edmonton using Natural Flood Management such as ponds and woodlands
- Creating and enhancing habitats for wildlife including woodlands, meadows, and wetlands
More information can be found on the Enfield Council website HERE
CLIMATE EMERGENCY MEASURES
Enfield Council has declared a climate emergency with a pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030.
These first 100,000 new trees planted across 40.47 hectares of council-owned land in Enfield Chase. (this is equivalent to 61 football pitches) and will help to reduce the amount of the harmful greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. This woodland creation scheme will significantly increase the number of trees in the borough and alongside flood management features like ponds, wetlands and swales.
Swales are a means of stopping water runoff, especially from roads and hard surfaces, and putting it to use rather than having it drain away. They are effective at removing polluting suspended solids through filtration and sedimentation. The vegetation (much of which is painstakingly planted by the volunteers) traps organic and mineral particles that are then incorporated into the soil, while the vegetation takes up any nutrients.
The swales are maintained by removing sediment and debris from in and around the swale. Weeds and plants that do not belong are also removed. Obstruction or blockage of flow along inflow areas or pipes, including trash, debris, or sediment are carefuly checked
This enhances biodiversity and providing habitats for birds and other animals. As well as using natural processes and planting and rewilding to reduce risk of flooding, the new trees will stabilise the soils, preventing their erosion, with benefits felt as far away as the Olympic Park. The project also creates a series of mini-wetlands which will help prevent pollution from reaching the river.
This new woodland will enhance nature’s beauty for communities across Enfield as a place to enjoy for generations to come. It will be composed of mixed native species, predominantly broadleaf with some woody shrub, conifers and riparian species where appropriate.
(A tree identification/info guide will be added to our website shortly) A core of productive species will provide long-term sustainability. Species mix and layout will aim to look and feel natural – avoiding grid planting and softening edges with mixed species. Planting densities are varied with lower concentrations of planting in the vicinity of footpaths, other amenity spaces and woodland edges
Enfield Council’s Climate Action Plan envisages creating 140 hectares of new trees by 2025
The open character of the Salmons Brook valley will be retained by incorporating natural flood management features like ponds and wetlands, and allocating some areas of natural regeneration. During very dry periods some of these may dry out but rapidly refill over time.
The historic context of the area will be preserved and a brief history is attached here.
Key views will be identified and protected. Space for amenity features such as footpaths, glades and picnic areas will be incorporated.
The London Loop (“The 150 mile long “M25 for walkers” ) within Enfield has been upgraded to provide a more accessible path which can support wheeled traffic such as cyclists, prams and wheelchairs eventually connecting Trent Park to Forty Hall.
The help of Thames21 and Enfield Council mobilised communities, stakeholders and volunteers to help shape the new woodland and introduce jobs and training opportunities. The first phase of planting began in November 2020.
Volunteering: Thames 21, working with Enfield Council and the team of loyal volunteers* created London’s largest woodland project with regular tree planting, tree maintenance and river restoration which is now well underway.
The Friends of Enfield Chase group are currently undertaking varied management activities and volunteering residents are welcome to get involved.
