Nature reserve in row over funding

5:19pm Wednesday 21st February 2001

A North Finchley conservation group is becoming increasingly concerned about the future of a public nature reserve after Barnet Council refused to pay for their expenses.

"They don't want us to work on the reserve any more. We have been working on the site for the last 18 years," said Ollie Natelson, of the Coppetts Wood Conservationists.

The group manages and maintains the site on a voluntary basis to help preserve rare plants such as marsh bedstraw, marsh speedwell, hop sedge and bee orchids.

"It would usually cost about £10,000 to maintain a public park but we are doing it for £700 a year," Mr Natelson added.

"For the first time in 12 years our expenses have been refused and it has taken us eight months to get our last expenses paid. We have been told that we will have to go begging to charities."

The group is worried about the reserve because it says that the council's policy of "encouraging motorcycles" and widening footpaths will be damaging to the environment.

Cabinet member for community development, Susette Palmer, refused to comment on the issue of expenses but denied that the council were severing their links with the volunteers.

"This council has no intention of doing anything other than working alongside the tireless volunteers in protecting this important reserve for the enjoyment of everyone," she said.

"We do not intend undertaking any further works other than controlling the knotweed if necessary and I'm sure that gardeners would agree that this is necessary."

Coppetts Wood, which is next to Colney Hatch Lane, North Finchley, is recognised by English Nature and is the only public nature reserve in Friern Barnet and Finchley.

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