Park of the week

44. Paignton Park

Paignton Park is a small open space in South Tottenham. It was created in the mid-1980s on the site of former terraced housing, as part of the wider regeneration of the area. The park received a Green Flag Award in 2010 and has kept it ever since.

It’s in a location, known as The Triangle, that’s densely populated with little other public open space nearby. The park a local Site of Importance for Nature Conservation because it has parkland, neutral grassland, and ruderal vegetation. “Ruderal” was an unfamiliar word to me, it means “growing on waste ground or among rubbish”. I apologise to any readers to whom I’m telling something you already knew. 

In the centre of the park is a large grassy area. To the east of this is a woodland area which provides a habitat for insects, birds, and flowers. It also has dense shrubbery. There’s also a small orchard, a picnic area and table tennis tables.
Among the wildlife living in the park that we saw was a squirrel, “doing cute” as I call it, as in the photo. I don’t suppose it was the same squirrel who’s worked out how to knock the bird feeders in my garden onto the ground and dig up Jerusalem artichokes (quite helpful, that), but on the other hand he’s clever enough to have worked out how to hitch a lift (possibly on the roof of my car). Perhaps I should branch out into writing children’s books. I can see myself as the Beatrix Potter of FRS.

At the Daleview Road entrance is a specially commissioned welcome arch decorated with representations of the leaves of trees found in the park. The main path into the park incorporates two mosaics developed with the local community around fifteen years ago. This entrance also includes the area known as the community square. It includes brick paving, a feature throughout the park, and tables and seats made of stone blocks. Two of the tables have chess boards built into their design. The square also includes raised brick-built flower beds, which local people have used for planting.

There’s a playground, but no toilets or café. There are entrances on St Ann’s Road, Eastbourne Road, Richmond Road and Daleview Road, N15. Daleview Road becomes Paignton Road just after the entrance.
Judith Field

Paignton Park, 17 Eastbourne Rd, London N15 6NT