Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Enfield Loop of the New River
Borough: Enfield
Grade: Borough
Access: Free public access
Area: 3.68 ha

Description

Once a meander of the New River, but when it was straightened in the 1930s, the loop at Enfield town was cut off to become an ornamental stretch of standing water. It passes through the playing fields of Enfield Grammar School, and then alongside Gentleman’s Row, one of the most picturesque spots in Enfield. It then widens into a lake alongside one edge of Town Park.Town Park won a Green Flag Award for the first time in 20089. ‘Get Walking, Get Talking’ project uses this site – a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.

Wildlife

The water sits within canalised banks, supporting the aquatic plants branched bur-reed, common reed, reed canary-grass, yellow flag iris, gypsywort, pendulous sedge, water dock, brooklime, creeping jenny, horned pondweed and rigid hornwort. The middle section of the loop has overhanging woodland of willow, sycamore, ash and alder.Birds seen here include mallard, moorhen, coot, kingfisher, mute swan and grey heron. A variety of dragonflies is also present, as well the the predatory fish, pike.

Facilities

Playground; water playground; toilets; cafe; open air events (all in Town Park).
No photo yet available for this site

No photo yet available for this site

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Find out more

More information on GiGL’s SINC dataset can be found here.

Additional information, including other site designations and species recorded onsite and nearby, can be provided in community and client data search reports. Request information here.