A partnership between Enfield Council and Thames 21 has seen 13 new wetlands created and 130,000 trees planted around the borough

The collaboration between Enfield Council and environmental charity Thames21 – which has seen several borough parks and green spaces transformed for nature – has won a prestigious award.

The Ashden Awards celebrates people and organisations that it judges are “changing our relationship with nature and delivering the new technologies and funding models essential for reaching net zero”, with Enfield Council and Thames21 last night (Tuesday 14th) winning the award category for ‘local nature recoverers’.

The climate charity recognised the partnership for its nature-based solutions to address flood risk and improve water quality in Enfield, which has seen spaces such as Albany Park and Broomfield Park transformed with new wetland projects in recent years, as well as rivers such as Pymmes Brook and Salmons Brook being cleaned and improved. A new woodland has also been planted at Enfield Chase as part of the collaboration.

Thames21 and Enfield Council were chosen from more than 200 applicants. Enfield Council’s deputy leader, Ergin Erbil, said: “We have made it our aim to protect our communities and to help them become more flood resilient by working with Thames21 and community groups to restore our waterways, create new natural features and increase awareness.

“Our long-standing partnership with Thames21 has helped to engage local people so there is much greater engagement and awareness of issues facing urban areas, particularly in the east of the borough, as a result of climate change.

“We are extremely proud of the work we have done, delivering new wetlands, boosting vegetations, planting thousands of trees and installing raingardens across the borough. By enhancing climate resilience in Enfield, we can protect homes, boost biodiversity and also improve access to our green and open spaces, so that all residents and visitors can benefit from this important and ongoing collaboration.

“I would like to extend my congratulations to the watercourses team at Enfield Council, Thames21, our friends of parks groups and all volunteers who are helping with our ambitious local nature recovery aims.”

In total, Thames 21 and the council have delivered 13 new wetlands, planted 130,000 trees, and worked with more than 5,000 volunteers since 2021.

Chris Coode, Thames21’s CEO, said: “We are very proud to have won this prestigious award together with our partner Enfield Council. I feel that this recognition is a testament to our joint work, but also a mandate to continue working on our vision to create healthy, clean rivers, as outlined in our five year plan.

“We have been working with Enfield Council for more than a decade and this collaboration has been a great success. Through a collaborative effort with local residents and volunteers, we have restored rivers and created new ponds, woods and wetlands to build climate resilience in north London.

“We know that healthy rivers are key to mitigating the most acute effects of climate change, including flooding and water scarcity, as well as for restoring biodiversity and creating beautiful blue-green spaces for people and wildlife.

“Overall, we want to rebuild the bond between communities and their rivers. We unite communities in their understanding, enjoyment, advocacy, and stewardship of their rivers over the long term. At the same time, we can deliver powerful social impacts like improved wellbeing, community cohesion, and greater equality of access to good quality green-blue spaces for people to enjoy.”

Ashden CEO Ashok Sinha added: “This year’s Ashden Award winners prove that people are passionate about creating practical solutions to the climate emergency. Just look at what happens as a result: higher incomes, better health, stronger communities and the creation of new jobs. These brilliant solutions need serious backing from policymakers and investors.”

No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.  

More information on supporting us monthly or yearly 

More Information about donations