‘Unacceptable to fence off parts of Waterlow Park’

• THE small wooded area of Waterlow Park proposed by Camden for private use by groups for “nature education” belongs to all park users and the whole community.

It would be completely unacceptable to fence off the trees for exclusive group activities. Extra furniture, such as benches, would also spoil the wooded space.

The “consultation” ending February 25 is deceptive as it doesn’t explain the real picture and agenda hiding behind an ideal of nature and children.

By all means add to biodiversity but it’s not necessary to bring added human impact into another area of a much-used gem of a park.

The park has to have different areas that are left relatively free of organised group activities. Schools and children are already well catered for with play areas and events in the park and at Lauderdale House.

Waterlow is not that large and has to provide some respite from the busyness of the city with increasing organised education and group activity. Many people need it for simple rest and relaxation, enjoying nature by themselves.

And children especially tend to be over directed when it comes to exploring nature. They too need free time to just be in a lovely green, garden-like, space and discover their own thoughts and imagination.

Undisturbed green spaces for wildlife are essential to the health of the biodiversity we aim to champion.

Such sanctuaries are dwindling fast as the human demand for invading them persists. This proposed scheme is yet another example.

Taking parts of a public park away from the community as a whole discriminates against ordinary people.

Pieces of the park cannot legitimately be closed off and commandeered for private or commercial interests. It seems Camden would also be seeking to make money out this.

Once an area is turned into something for a particular exclusive – and privatised – purpose it is very unlikely to be temporary as claimed.

Is it really a problem for educational groups and schools to wait a little until the upper pond area can be mended and again used for their purposes?

An alternative suggestion: since private schools within a few minutes walk of the park have very considerable grounds and resources it would make more sense to use areas in their sites for children’s group education about nature.

It could be a creative and socially useful way to share experiences between children of different backgrounds and social classes in an increasingly divided society.

SHARON LYTTON
Cromwell Avenue, N6