Park of the week

4. Highlands Gardens

This small, little-known park is a hidden gem in New Barnet. You can park on the street itself or any nearby side-roads. At the main entrance, at the junction of Abbotts Road and Leicester Road, New Barnet, is a wooden lych-gate, and once you go through there’s a sense of intimacy – because it used to be a private garden. 

The grounds belonged to Highlands House, built in the late nineteenth century. The owner installed a lot of “rock works” in the garden. Most have gone, but you can see an example as you come in: an archway and rocky path. The garden was opened to the public in 1931 when the house was demolished and replaced with flats (rebuilt in 1972). During the Second World War, it was used for vegetable plots.

We visited at the end of August, so of course it was pouring with rain. It was well worth walking round with umbrellas. We usually like to sit on a bench and there were plenty, but we had to give that a miss. There are lots of mature trees, including palms, yucca, monkey puzzle and yew. It has a fishpond with a stream and a waterfall. Fortunately, I keep a tub of goldfish food in the car in case we find ourselves in such a place and the fish came up to feed despite the rain plopping onto the water. There are flower beds and lawns, with tree-lined paths meandering through – quite secluded where they wind their way round the water features.

It’s a shame that Jack makes a fuss if we go to a park more than once, because I’d like to visit Highlands Gardens again. Perhaps when there’s less work and I can go where I like when I like I’ll go on my own, everything else permitting. I hope that day comes soon, because it’s one of the forty-five “low-quality low-value” where Barnet Council propose to install solar panels and/or storage units for renewable electricity.  

Judith Field

Highlands Gardens, Leicester Road, New Barnet EN5 5EB