Are Enfield Council going to sell Woodcroft Wildspace ?

Lying at the heart of Winchmore Hill is Woodcroft Wildspace – a five acre plot of land which houses a staggering range of insects, birds, small mammals, pond life, plants and trees.

Ideally located for N21 residents without their own garden, the space was first designated as an educational wild space by Councillor Martin Prescott who had the idea to transform it from a waterlogged and under-used sports ground into a cherished community resource.

A public consultation conducted by Enfield Council in 2003 gave an overwhelmingly enthusiastic nod to the scheme and the wildspace was born.

Both council and central government approval for a 75-year lease was achieved in 2008 but, despite the best efforts of a community-led registered charity set up to create the space, the long lease has yet to be granted.

Now nature enthusiasts are battling to save the space as councillors are considering selling it to developers. The passionate campaigners have been left in limbo as councillors in autumn 2011 postponed indefinitely a decision on the plot’s future.

The current lease expires at the end of October.
 

The lack of a long lease with no break clause means grant making bodies are unable to sign off the kind of funding needed to develop and run the project in the long term.

The long term vision includes nature trails through managed woodland, wetland and meadow areas, all of which will be designed for full disabled access.

The project will also include the creation of a new Wildspace Centre – a multifunctional building with teaching, field study, meeting/exhibition space, as well as refreshment areas and a soft play/sensory room.

Organisers say the idea is to make Woodcroft Wildspace as inclusive as possible and to encourage the entire community to play a part in its design and management.
 

But all now hinges on what councillors decide to do next.

Bob Ladell, chairman of Woodcroft Wildspace, is among those gathering signatures for a petition to guarantee the area for future generations.
 

He insists the facilities at Woodcroft are very much in demand by schools, community groups and businesses as an educational venue, both to support the curriculum and as a place for environmental volunteering.

The petition is supported by David Burrowes MP and councillors Martin Prescott, Ertan Hurer and Elaine Haywood.

Visit www.woodcroft.org.uk to find out more and sign the petition.