A celebratory event at Broomfield Park has marked the opening of Enfield’s latest wetland project that will deliver a huge range of benefits to the community and environment.
The Rivers Trust and Thames21 have provided support to Enfield Council who have led the design and creation of the wetland while funding has come from the Coca-Cola Foundation via a water stewardship partnership between Coca-Cola and WWF.
Guests at the opening were shown all the work of volunteers who took part in mass planting events. They heard about the multiple benefits that the wetland provides and were able to take part in citizen science.
One of the main objectives of the project is to improve water quality in the nearby Pymmes Brook, a tributary of the Lower Lea that has been subject to pollution. The wetland will help to improve water quality before it reaches the river. As well as improving water quality, the wetland will help to alleviate the flood risk to properties and will protect the park from water-logging.
In addition, wetland habitats, once established, will support biodiversity and the ecology of the area. School children will be encouraged to engage with nature and to use the wetlands as a living classroom, so they can learn about wildlife, climate change and other environmental issues.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Guney Dogan, said: “The new wetland will be a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together to protect, nurture and engage with nature. Broomfield Park already has a fantastic band of volunteers that help tirelessly to make the area one of Enfield’s favourite outdoor spaces and we are incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication to this wonderful project.
Coca-Cola Great Britain Sustainability Manager, Liz Lowe, said: “Water and its stewardship is at the very heart of our business – and of course it’s the single biggest ingredient in all our drinks. It is vital for us to help ensure the future sustainability of water – whether that’s reducing and recycling what we use in our factories or considering how we can help conserve water outside of our factory walls – and that’s where we are committed to replenishing 100 per cent of the water we use.
“Since 2015 we have been safely returning to communities and nature an amount of water equal to what we use globally in the production of our drinks. How we do that is mostly via the work we support through partnerships like this one which help to improve available water quality or quantity in local communities. There are often lots of additional benefits for nature too, such as better biodiversity and improved habitats. We support hundreds of these types of projects in areas of water stress all over the world which help to ensure water security for all - for local communities, for nature and for our local business.”
On this project, the Council worked with its project partners, the Friends of Broomfield Park, the Pymmes BrookERS, and volunteers from Coca-Cola’s local manufacturing site in Edmonton. Members of the local community including families and children helped too.
Wetlands play an important role in tackling pollution, absorbing excess water and providing habitats for aquatic plants and creatures. Enfield Council is seen as a leading authority in sustainable drainage systems. If you would like to get involved in similar projects and to keep up-to-date on information and events, sign up to Enfield Council’s newsletters at www.enfield.gov.uk/enewsletters.
Picture credit: Taking the Pixels