Barnet Environment Centre is situated on a 7.5 acre nature reserve which is a “Site of Interest for Nature Conservation”. The Friends of Barnet Environment Centre is a registered charity which provides events for the local community and activities for schools in order to educate and inspire a lasting interest in and appreciation of the natural world. We maintain the reserve through regular volunteer work-parties and, in addition to educating schoolchildren, organise open days, children’s activities and youth projects.The nature reserve and Environment Centre are only open to the public for these events.

All our courses are curriculum-linked and provide children with the opportunity to learn about and connect with nature and also to discover the joy of the natural world. We are so happy to be able to share our nature reserve and its amazing wildlife with so many children. We hope that in future years they continue to engage with nature after they leave us and grow up with a sense of ownership of the environment and a desire to protect it. Please visit our School or Youth pages.

Reconstructing Murky Pond
Murky Pond had developed a leak, so with the combination of an increasing amount of accumulated silt and a falling water level it was difficult to use it for pond dipping.
It was decided to reline it and we started to dig out the silt in autumn 2020, which became very wet. Eventually the solid was removed, revealing how deep the pond actually was and explaining why the only plants growing in it were reed sweet-grass, Glyceria maxima and yellow flag, Iris pseudacorus, both deep water specialists and not noted for supporting invertebrate diversity. More …

Improving Accessibility at the Environment Centre
In the past, during winter months, it has often been difficult getting round the Reserve.  We have had flooding near the ponds, and thick mud near the Monterey Pine and Attenuation Ponds.  After a lot of research, and thanks to a very generous grant from the Hadley Trust, we have created a wonderful perimeter path with several benches at ‘Pause and Ponder’ points. More …

New Fencing Along the Meadow Boundary
We are erecting a new fence along the southern boundary of the meadow. We have chosen to make it using a method that goes back hundreds of years – traditional Sussex Cleft Chestnut post-and-rail. Why have we done this? (apart from the fact that it looks great!) More …

The nature reserve site and Environment Centre are owned by Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. More …