Park of the week

14. Oakwood Park

Oakwood Park, in Enfield, is another example of a park created from the grounds of a grand house. It’s on land that was originally part of Enfield Chase, a royal hunting ground. Later the area became part of an estate called Oak Lodge, including a house, which was demolished in about 1920. It was opened as a park in 1927.

In the park you can still see the ice well that belonged to the house, dating from around 1870. It looks like a small brick igloo. Ice houses or ice wells were constructed on large estates before the days of fridges and freezers. In winter people cut ice from lakes and ponds, then store it for preserving food. 

The park has a café, tennis courts, a large children’s playground - for large children, small children, and young autistic men as well – it had one of the giant tyre swings Jack loves. Since they’re big enough to fit him, as are the ones looking like huge baskets, I don’t see a problem in letting him go on. Often, we have to wait, but once in another park, a group of girls got off the swing just to let him on. Always, though, people stare. Sometimes, they make fun. I’ve perfected my “don’t mess with us” look, involving clutching my car key in a fist. 

Anyway – back to Oakwood Park. It also has open spaces to walk in, where you can still see some of the original field boundaries and it features an avenue of poplar trees, planted to mark the coronation of King George VI. It’s a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation. There’s a wildlife pond edged with aquatic plants, developed in 1980 from a lake originally used for sailing model boats. You can see damselflies, dragonflies, geese, and ducks. Now – a word about feeding. We shouldn’t give bread to ducks as it hasn’t got much nutritional value and encourages rats. You can give them bird food, or if you haven’t got that they’ll eat shredded green vegetables. Apparently, they also eat grass cuttings, but I don’t fancy filling my pockets with that.

There are entrances on Saxon Way, Prince George Avenue, Willow Walk, and Oakwood Park Road, all N14, and you can park there or in the surrounding streets.

Judith Field

Oakwood Park, Saxon Way, London N14 6QB