The power of community: a glimpse into Friends of Enfield Chase

Friends of Enfield Chase is a small group making a big impact in North London. The collective offers a blueprint for how community organisations can make a real difference in their local area. Read on and be inspired!

By: Misha Khan 

To learn more about the Friends’ work, we talked to John Cole, Trustee of the Enfield Society and Chair of Friend of Enfield Chase. John shared insights into the group’s origins and ongoing projects, and what you can do to take grassroots action in your own local green space.  

The birth of Friends of Enfield Chase: from an overgrown field to thriving woodland 

John Cole’s journey into environmental conservation began after a 20-year career in the civil service, focusing on sustainability projects. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, John left his desk job and turned to hands-on conservation work.

John’s involvement with Friends of Enfield Chase started when the area was still a neglected, overgrown field. The group has since played a valuable role in in helping undertake a massive tree-planting project, in collaboration with Enfield Council, initially with funding given to the local authority by the Mayor of London with later support from the Forestry Commission and Thames21.

Seven volunteers continue to work tirelessly after the trees are planted each winter to plant more trees, maintain tree guards, expand density and conduct survival audits, and have played a key role in helping transform 80 hectares of land. Today, Enfield Chase is home to 142,000 trees, with areas set aside for natural regeneration. Planting has focused on the area around the London Loop where it meets Salmon Brook, with trees planted on either side.

The project, initially funded as a flood prevention measure, has since grown into a larger conservation effort that continues to attract the support of Enfield council, which has been the boldest local authority in London on helping to grow London’s urban forest.   

Unlike many friends’ groups, which manage existing parks or small green spaces, Friends of Enfield Chase support a dynamic, large-scale restoration project. Group members come from varied professional backgrounds, including former GPs, police officers, civil servants, and bankers. They share a passion for community bonding, well-being, and the natural environment. According to John, they all love to dig away while talking about everything under the sun, from life to politics. The atmosphere, he says, is completely different in the Chase, where it’s nice to ‘get away without really being away’.  

John is keen to point out that Friends of Enfield Chase is not just about planting trees. The group acts as a representative voice for the area, engaging with local authorities and other stakeholders to advocate for the continued improvement of Enfield Chase. 

Advice for aspiring friends’ groups 

For community members eager to support a green space near them who are unsure how to start, John offers practical advice: “Follow the path of least resistance.” This means identifying achievable goals and making gradual progress, even if the steps seem small. John believes it’s important to gather a solid group of like-minded individuals, even if it’s just two people to start. By dividing tasks and focusing on realistic objectives, a small group can accomplish big things. 

John also underscores the importance of being pragmatic, as there will always be limitations in terms of time, money, and resources.

Having the support of local authorities or organisations can be incredibly empowering, as it has been for Friends of Enfield Chase. The group has benefited hugely from the council’s involvement, which has brought funding and expertise to the project. 

Challenges and support needs 

Like many volunteer-driven organisations, Friends of Enfield Chase faces challenges, particularly in attracting more volunteers and managing a growing range of activities.

Looking ahead: the future of Enfield Chase 

As Friends of Enfield Chase grows, their focus remains on making incremental progress and engaging the community in the restoration of this historic landscape. With plans to develop new projects and attract more visitors, the group is working closely with Enfield Council in its efforts to turn Enfield Chase into vibrant, sustainable woodland.  In March 2024, Enfield Council announced another 50 ha of accessible woodland will be created extending the area to 130 ha in total. 

The friends group are particularly excited about projects, such as developing a sculpture trail and enhancing the area’s natural floodplains to increase biodiversity. These initiatives aim to transform Enfield Chase into a more accessible and engaging space for families and visitors, furthering their mission to – finally – put the area “on the map.”

Anna Taylor, Director of CPRE London said: “The work of the Friends of Enfield Chase shows the amazing impact friends groups can have!”

“There are many green sites across Enfield that don’t yet have community involvement, and are currently somewhat under utilised and unloved. Having a friends group can provide the energy and drive to get these sites working harder for the benefit of local people, wildlife and the planet!”

We are always delighted to hear from people interested in setting up a friends’ group for a green space. To find out more about the support and advice available please email Laura,  our London Friends of Greenspace Network Coordinator laura@cprelondon.org.uk“.

A list of current friends groups in Enfield can be found here.  If your local green space isn’t on the list why not take action to change this and seize the opportunity of getting the health and wellbeing benefits of green volunteering while also having a really positive impact for local people and the environment.