Raising the flag for Cherry Tree Wood

By Diana Cormack
Barnet Council has announced that Cherry Tree Wood is included in a bid to the Civic Trust for Green Flag status.
The Green Flag Award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. Seven parks in the borough already hold this award, which depends on them being well maintained, with a range of facilities. There also needs to be a comprehensive five-year management plan in place, setting out further improvements that will be made.

Money matters
In 2004 The Archer reported that Cherry Tree Wood was one of 16 parks in Barnet with Premier Park status. This meant they were eligible for more money than lower graded parks to provide such things as essential repairs and improvements. However, anything bringing about significant change depended on funding being available; as the then chairman of the Friends of Cherry Tree Wood said, no matter what the intention, it “always came down to money”.

At the time of writing, money is being spent on long-needed improvements, particularly to the paths. There is no longer a park keeper, but his vandalised hut has been refurbished and is being used for storage.
Green Flag criteria  

Judges will inspect the park and meet the council’s Green Space officers. Among other things, they will be looking for a welcoming place that is healthy, safe and secure. It should be clean and well maintained, with an emphasis on sustainability, paying particular attention to conservation and heritage. Community involvement must be evident, of which the Friends of Cherry Tree Wood are an obvious example.

There are still plans for the pavilion site (see The Archer August 2008), though in its present state it has been regarded as a stumbling block to Green Flag status. Visit www.greenflagaward.org.uk to see if you think the Wood meets the necessary criteria. The Civic Trust’s decision will be announced in the summer.

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