Park of the week

7.  Oakmere Park and Parkfield Open Space

I’m writing about both places at the same time, because although we visited them separately it turns out that they’re on opposite sides of the High Street in Potters Bar. Together, the two parks have over a thousand trees. Oakmere has more introduced species, and Parkfield has more native ones.

Oakmere Park

Oakmere Park was once the grounds to Oakmere House, and it keeps some of the original layout. There are two lakes, two children’s playgrounds and a green gym. There are paths, and October 1916, a ‘Super Zeppelin’ (these could fly too high to be heard from the ground) was shot down over the park by Second Lieutenant WJ Tempest. The Zeppelin crashed onto an oak tree to the east of the park the pilot and all his crew were killed. The road that borders the park was named Tempest Avenue in his honour. 

In 2015 three sculptures, hand-carved by a local sculptor were installed, representing key features within the park: an acorn symbolising the trees that make up ‘Oak’ mere (see photo), a swan - as found on the two lakes and a fish. We didn’t see the swan. The fish was stolen in 2016 and I’ve been unable to find out whether the police were able to reel in the thief (don’t blame me – I got this from the Welwyn Hatfield Times).

There’s a car park in Salisbury Close, opposite the main entrance, but you have to pay to park. There are also pay and display parking bays on the High Street by the main entrance. The satnav led us straight to free spaces on the other side of the park, on the Grove (off Tempest Avenue). 
 
Parkfield Open Space

This Green Flag Award-winning park was acquired in 1934, having previously been part of a larger estate containing a house. That had been used as a convent, then a school, before being demolished in 1935. 

It contains a range of attractions including (so it’s much older than you might think), traditional meadows, a Japanese Garden, holly walk, remains of a Roman tile kiln (discovered in the nineteen-fifties), tree trail, Potters Bar Tennis Club, a lake, a pond with linking water channel, tree sculpture and a World War Two air raid shelter. A local artist carved the Parkfield Statue from a complete oak trunk in 1999, representing the people of Potters Bar, and that all life depends on trees.

There are parking bays along Billy Lows Lane which are free outside of restrictions (2-3pm), but you could also park in the Salisbury Close car park or on the High Street. 

Judith Field

Oakmere Park: Highview Gardens, Potters Bar EN6 5PJ
Parkfield Open Space: Billy Lows Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1UY