Chair's update: September 2023

Tom Walker, Chair

It is a very busy time in Abney Park and for the Trust. We are waiting for the completion of the council's much delayed building work so we can get back to more normal operations with a permanent and visible presence in the park and the new amenities. We think that is weeks, not months, away now – but that is still up for confirmation.

There are several big things happening as the project concludes and they bring to life all the different things that Abney Park means to people.

The council has relaunched the cafe tender to appoint an operator for the cafe and the community facilities. This will be a vital partner for us. Please do promote the tender which has good requirements about sustainability and local sourcing.

The council licensing committee is meeting on Monday night (25th September) to decide about the chapel events licence. The papers are now publicly available and you can see our conditional support for the proposal. There is also more detail from the council about how they will manage the venue, including confirming that events will be for c80 people and inside only. We will be making the case for a much more considered approach.

The council has published a controversial proposal for the control of dogs in Abney Park (as part of a borough wide consultation) which has generated disagreement and confusion and some unfortunate rumour mongering.

As an independent charity with objectives that stretch back to 1993 we have put the interests of the park, and particularly its status as a nature reserve, ahead of other considerations. We’ve been speaking to all different types of park user both recently and over the years, and we know that there is a wide range of opinions on this. We have set out our reasoning so it is transparent. We also knew that this would be very contentious. We also want the council to do much, much more to set out how it sees the park being managed and to balance the different uses.

In the end most people want what is best for this magical urban woodland without damaging the very thing they value. We hope the consultation can get the broadest range of views so that elected politicians (not volunteers like us) can take a decision.  

Wherever it ends up we look forward to getting back to work on the things that we are here to do – which is promote Abney's history and ecology through our events, engagement and other activities.