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We would like to increase the playability of the park by providing more multifunctio...
A New Park for East Finchley
London, England, United Kingdom
Aim
We are transforming a neglected tarmac playground into a nature-filled, sustainable and playable park for all our urban community.
About us
We are a group of parents in East Finchley who came together during the pandemic to save our neglected local playground from closure by the Council.
We formed Friends of Market Place Playground (FOMPP) to protect and transform the space into a natural, playable park for our growing, diverse, urban community. We now sit under the charity, East Finchley Community Trust (reg. no 1141564).
We are well on our way to realising our project but need to raise more funds for planting and play equipment.
Why is the park needed?
East Finchley has been heavily developed in recent years. To use Barnet Council's own words our community now has a 'particular deficiency' in parks and open space. The Playground location lies in the worst category on the Mayor of London's 10-Minute Walk Map meaning our residents live too far from green space. Those with limited time or funds or young children or poor mobility are especially impacted.
Many people rely on the Playground. The 2021 Census showed over 60% of East Finchley live in flats. Many houses have very small gardens. Within 2 minutes walk of the space there are 350 purpose built flats (mostly social housing and sheltered housing for the elderly and disabled) and within 5 minutes’ walk there are 3 schools with 1,700 pupils. Over 5,000 people live within 10 minutes walk of the Playground.
As in much of London, there are pockets of severe deprivation in our community. For those in financial need, urban parks and green spaces are often the main way to connect with nature. Yet, in East Finchley these spaces are lacking.
Restoring our environment
Currently the playground is very barren and often feels quite hostile. The space is in the worst categories on the London Datastore Heat Risk Map, the Flood Risk Map and the Overall Climate Risk Map. The combination of a large expanse of tarmac and practically no shade from the few trees means that in the summer the space is often unusable – and the metal play equipment can easily scald a child. In the summer 2022 heatwave the space offered no respite from the heat. The tarmac means that short bursts of torrential rain produce flash flooding in the neighbouring streets from the playground.
Our project is simple but ambitious.
We will bring nature back to the heart of East Finchley, by transforming the playground and adjacent patch of scrub into a nature filled park. We will rip up 850m2 of tarmac and replace it with species-rich grass and improve 450m2 of low grade turf. We will replace security fencing with a combination of new fencing and native hedges, and will plant native shrubs and flowers. Approximately 15 new mature trees will provide further biodiversity, habitat and shade. The plants will be selected to be both beneficial to local ecosystems and as biodiverse as possible, whilst being resistant to the new climate challenges. Native plants will assist the ‘beeline’ and pollinator pathway which run past the space and will also provide winter food for birds.
Because of its location in the heart of East Finchley, it will have an enduring impact on thousands of people for decades to come: a free, accessible outdoor space for everyone to come together and reap the mental and physical health benefits of being in nature.
Why we need your help
We have already raised an amazing £393,000 from Barnet Council, Grow Back Greener, Grange Big Local, The Betty Messenger Charitable Foundation, The CSDS Foundation, The London Marathon Foundation, BUPA and Garfield Weston and the generosity of our community and supporters. This sum is more than the original project costs but with inflation, our costs have gone up. However we are nearly there and are planning to start work in January 2024.
The money you donate to this crowdfunding will help to buy:
- around 15 mature trees (including crab apple, rowan, plum, apple) - approx £13,000 (which includes planting & maintenance).
- 70 m of native hedge (such as. hornbeam, dogwood, hawthorn) which will replace the old security fencing - £2,200.
- 300m2 of shrubs (such as willow, hydrangea, Myrtis) and ferns - £8,700.
- Wildflower, bulbs and grass seeds - £1000
Thank you for your donation today and for supporting Market Place Playground.
Aviva Community Fund has provided £12,880 of match funding
Aviva Employee Giving has provided £360 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 6th January 2024