Broomfield Park

Broomfield Park is a park situated in Palmers Green in the London Borough of Enfield. Its main feature is Broomfield House, a large building that was gutted by fire in 1984 and has since remained derelict.

History
Popular belief states that the park was named after John Broomfield who was a London Currier (a seller of leather goods). In 1556 he sold the land to a man named Geoffrey Walkeden, but by 1599 the estate was owned by the London Alderman Sir John Spencer. In the 17th century the land and house were purchased by Joseph Jackson, whose family owned it until family member Mary Jackson married William Tash in 1773. The estate was left in Mary Tash's will to her friend Louisa Powys, whose family inherited it when Willian Tash died. Since then, the park has been used as grazing site for livestock, a sports track and a rifle range. None of these remain today. In 1903 the park was purchased by Southgate Urban District Council for £25,000 and was opened to the public on 25th April 1903. Broomfield House was Grade II listed in 1950.

Access and Facilities
The main access to the park is located on Alderman's Hill, although gates are also present on Powys Lane.

Palmers Green railway station, served by First Capital Connect, is a short walk away from the main gate on Alderman's Hill. Bus routes 121 and W6 stop outside the park, while bus route 329 stops nearby on Green Lanes.

The park has paved paths but these are in generally in a state of disrepair and can be uneven.

There are no toilets or cafes in the park. Both can be found on nearby Green Lanes or the Morrisons supermarket on Alderman's Hill.

Habitat
The park is roughly divided into three areas: Football pitches and play area, gardens and lakes and the former carriage drive. There is also a model boating lake near the main gate and a memorial garden at the back of the park.

The former carriage drive is a large expanse of grass with a few trees. In the winter this is often the area favoured by Redwings.

Species Sighted
Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mediterranean Gull, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Robin, Shoveler, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren, Coot