Forum topic: Arnos Park river restoration project

Objectives

To re-establish natural geomorphological features within the Pymmes Brook, including the creation of natural instream features, natural banks, wet berms, potentially wetland scrapes and wet grassland i.e. reconnecting the river with the surrounding habitats, its floodplain.

Potential work:

The First step would be to carry out a feasibility study of the Pymmes though Arnos Park, including the surrounding landscape, defining the potential habitats which could be create and where. This would also give an idea of the cost and time scales involved. Depending on the outcomes of the feasibility study, a topography study of the area maybe needed if the its decide that wet scrapes and marshy areas should be created, thereby defining the works that would be needed to create these areas.

The NE Thames River restoration document also highlights this area as potential for full river restoration.

The works should include the removal of all impounding structures and artificial embankments. Once this has been completed there should be a low flow channel created which meanders its way along the natural course of the Pymmes (may not be the current course, decided by a topographical study). Outside, the low flow channel a peak flow course should be created, this should include wet berms and setback Flood risk managements to allow the river to naturally flood. These areas should contain back waters, wet berms, natural erosional cliff faces and wetland scrapes, which would significantly improve the biodiversity value of the area and the amenity value to local residents.

It was great to see so many people at yesterday's engagement event in Arnos Park to hear the Enfield Watercourse team's proposal for a river restoration through the park.

It's heartening to see that people care about the park and want to give their views.

Less great was the level of misinformation, negativity + hostility directed at the proposal and sometimes, at us. This is unnecessary and upsetting.

Very often it's the negative voices which are loudest, but it doesn't always reflect the views of the community. We also heard from people who were interested in and liked the idea.

We are all volunteers who give 1000's of hours of our time to look after, clean up, monitor the health of and speak up for our river.

Rivers need our help more than ever. We made it clear that we support any work to restore the river to a more natural state and take it out of its dark, dank, concrete straitjacket to improve river health + biodiversity. We are respectful of the process and will continue to encourage people to speak to the Watercourses team and give their views so that we can reach a solution that works for the river, the park, and the community. We encourage everyone to keep an open mind + understand what the benefits to us all might be and help make positive change.

Reminding all members of this group that constructive comments are welcome, but fact-free, hostile or overly negative ones will be removed and the person making them will be excluded from the group without delay.

We will get best results for the park if we work collaboratively and to try to understand others' views. We are all neighbours, and this is our local park.

"The [council's] watercourses team is currently considering the views of the community on its Arnos Park project. Whatever final form this scheme takes, let’s benefit from a major investment into the health and beauty of our local park and river."