Park of the week

9. Grovelands Park

This large park, in Southgate, dates from the late 18th century and was landscaped by Humphry Repton. It opened to the public in 1913 and won a Green Flag award in 2010. Like many that we’ve visited, it was originally the grounds of a house. This, now Grade 1 listed, was adapted as a military hospital in World War I and is now a private psychiatric hospital.
Within its boundaries are open grassland, ancient woodland, and a large lake where fishing is allowed. There are also natural meadows and reed beds: all supporting a wide variety of birds, insects and bats. We saw a swan and her cygnets in their nest on the bank of the lake. There’s a café, which may not be open now and which used to sell bird food – better for the wildfowl than bread. There’s also a playground and outdoor gym. The park is home to a weekly timed five-kilometre park run.

We visited in the middle of June, just as the first lockdown started to lift, and the park was very crowded. We tried without success to park on The Bourne and nearby side roads, but there is a car park with about six spaces right outside the main entrance, Inverforth Gate on The Bourne, and we managed to grab one of those. There are also entrances on Queen Elizabeth’s Drive, Broadwalk and Church Hill.

Judith Field
 

Grovelands Park, The Bourne, Southgate, London N14 6RA