Watling Park in Burnt Oak will be transformed by an ambitious package of improvements that will reduce the risk of flooding to nearby homes and streets during periods of heavy rainfall.
Barnet Council’s Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) for Watling Park will help tackle the climate emergency and support its mission to make the borough net zero by 2042.
Work on the £1.5million project begins this Monday and will see wetlands created along with new and resurfaced paths, tree-planting and an exciting new playground for younger visitors.
The Burnt Oak Brook will be realigned, taking it out of its concrete channel, adding meanders and bringing it further into the park. Specialist plants will be installed to help remove pollutants and improve water quality in the river.
This will make the brook a more visible and appealing feature within the park, as well as improving ecology and biodiversity, and providing a valuable habitat for water-loving wildlife.
Sight lines along the river and through the park will be improved by thinning and removing overgrown vegetation – making it a safer place for everyone. The entrance at Watling Avenue will be upgraded to open up the views, with new railings added.
Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, said: “It’s great that we are starting work on Barnet’s second sustainable urban drainage system for Watling Park. This will help to reduce the risk of flooding and improve biodiversity. By the time our work is finished in spring 2025, the park will be a safer, cleaner and more welcoming place for everybody. This project demonstrates the council’s commitment to caring about people, our places, and the planet.”
This project is funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programmes will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.
Barnet Council recently opened its first Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) in the borough. Halliwick Recreation Ground, Muswell Hill, was opened in July following the £1.3million refurbishment of the park.
Work on a third project will begin this autumn in Friary Park, Friern Barnet, introducing several flood mitigation measures along the Blacketts Brook. These will include river restoration, removing artificial banks, constructing a new wetland and the introduction a series of small ponds.
For more information, visit: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/environmental-problems/flood-and-water-management/flood-and-water-management-projects