Park of the week

97. North Enfield Recreation Ground

This large flat recreation ground in Enfield was built on the site of former dairy farm grazing land and is still known locally as Tucker's Field after the dairy farmer who owned it. It’s a pleasant green space for a walk, behind terraced housing and a primary school.

The north part of Enfield remained rural into the twentieth century, when it started to become built up. In 1907 the local authority, who were keen to make sure that some areas remained public open space, bought the land. It had been used as the home ground for Enfield Spartans football club from 1896-1900, after which they changed their name to Enfield Football Club and found larger premises. 

It was laid out and opened as North Enfield Recreation Ground. Later a grant was received from the King George's Fields Foundation, established in 1936 to encourage provision of parks, playing fields, recreation grounds and green spaces across the UK as a memorial to George V. These could be more widely enjoyed than a statue of the late king in London. Each is identified by a brass heraldic panel at the entrance, such as this one at the Myrtle Road entrance.

There are over 500 of them, now protected by Fields in Trust.

It’s an attractive place for wildlife and is home to a variety of birds. Stag beetles (the largest British beetle) have been found there, but we didn’t see any. You can walk dogs in the park but there’s a dog-free zone there. The Friends of Tucker's Field have planted trees and replaced hedges in the park in recent years, with the help of Enfield Conservation Volunteers.

There is a lot of open space, football pitches, tennis courts, a playground and picnic benches. There are no toilets or café.
There are entrances on Myrtle Grove, Woodbine Grove and Kilvinton Drive, Enfield, and there’s a footpath leading to the park on Clay Hill.

Judith Field

North Enfield Recreation Ground, 7 Myrtle Grove, Enfield EN2 0DZ