Park of the week

134. Ducketts Common

Ducketts Common is a park in Turnpike Lane, on Green Lanes, N15. This was an ancient route and is so-called because of the fields that lined it, until the railway brought housing development to the area. The area on the opposite side of Green Lanes is known as Green Gate Common. This has winding paths, shrubs, and trees. It is rumoured that air raid shelters exist below it, connected to the tube line and station. What’s more likely, given that the tube station is so close, is that these were actually ‘trench shelters’. These were very basic, situated in parks, and designed for people who were caught out when an air-raid happened. 

The name ‘Ducketts’ comes from Laurence Duket, a goldsmith who owned 160 acres of farmland in the thirteenth century. The farmland had been part of Tottenham manor. The local authority converted the common into a recreation ground in 1900. This involved planting 140 trees, and a further thirty trees in 1912. Many of the original plane and lime trees survive.

Ducketts Common is a welcome green space in a built-up area. It has wildflower meadows, established in 2013. The meadows were planted by volunteers from Christ Church London and local residents, taking ten thousand volunteer hours to complete. One meadow is cut for hay cut in mid-August and a second towards the end of the year. Many insects such as various bumble bees, butterflies and wild solitary bees are attracted by the nectar rich wildflowers. It won the Green Flag Award in 2014 and has kept it ever since. It has a basketball court, multi-use games area, outdoor gym, table tennis tables, picnic area and open space. There’s a café but no toilets. We parked on a nearby street.

Judith Field

Ducketts Common, Green Lanes, London N15 3DX