After a closure lasting eight months, the doors of Broomfield Conservatory will at last be thrown wide open on Sunday to let the public into Palmers Green's own mini-Kew Gardens.
When the doors to Broomfield Conservatory are thrown open on 26th May, visitors will find the interior freshly painted but somewhat barer than before repairs begain
When, in October last year, a much delayed start was made to work to repair damage to the Conservatory, it was expected that regular twice-weekly openings might be suspended for two or three months. In the event, the closure has lasted eight months, but the good news is that the building, which dates from 1934, has been redecorated inside and out as well as being extensively restored - in particular, one of its main features, the "lantern", has been reconstructed.
The restored and leak-free Conservatory will reopen its doors to visitors between 2.30 and 4.30 on Sunday 26th May and then open between the same times every Sunday and Wednesday (in the winter months the opening times will be half an hour earlier).
During restoration Broomfield Conservatory was swathed in plastic sheeting, greatly reducing light levels inside and affecting the plants
Because the Conservatory was wreathed in scaffolding and sheeting for so long, some of the plants did not survive the low light levels that prevailed, so returning visitors will find the interior somewhat barer than it used to be. But the Friends of Broomfield Park (FoBP) are already working on a new planting plan.
While repairs and decoration have been funded by Enfield Council, who also pay to heat the Conservatory in winter, all plants and equipment for maintaining the planting is paid for by the FoBP's Conservatory Group using money raised by plant sales. There are also collection buckets for donations in the Conservatory (cash only). Donations are obviously very useful, but you're very welcome to visit even if you don't want to or can't donate.