Craftsperson / Designer / Carpenter sought for The McKenzie Garden in Finsbury Park.

I attended last week’s Ladder Community Safety Partnership - May meeting, where an item on the agenda had caught my interest: - ‘Finsbury Park: update from guest speakers: Tony Healey, Park Manager, and Glynis Kirkwood-Warren, Project Officer.’

Previously the LCSP had agreed that their “share” of the Environmental Impact Fund (EIF) this year should be spent towards renewal & restoration of the McKenzie Garden, with the view to making it a “quiet space” for relaxation and rest, as a legacy from this year’s 150 year celebrations.

The Project Officer has already begun researching the history & layout of the McKenzie Garden at the Bruce Castle Museum & Archives, and also has plans for new irrigation solutions to make the garden more sustainable amongst other initiatives.

In order to mark the boundary, it was first suggested that swing gates etc might be installed, but new thinking from the Project Officer suggested ‘metal archways’ at each end and she was intending to meet with a designer the following day.

The meeting considered this, depending on the design, a good idea. Further discussion questioned whether it might be more environmentally sound and more sustainable to consider using wood rather that metal. The Project Officer agreed that she would also be happy to consider appropriate proposals submitted made using wood.

The Finsbury Park Project Officer wishes to hear from anyone who is interested in designing & building a pair of wooden arches at the following email address: parkprojects@haringey.gov.uk with “McKenzie Garden/Finsbury Park” in the title.