About The Trust

Monken Hadley Common Trust (“the Trust”) is a registered charity which owns and runs Monken Hadley Common (“the Common”) - an area of about 74 ha of common land situated in north London, near the northern edge of the London Borough of Barnet - for the benefit of the public

The Common was originally created by the Enfield Chase Act of 1777, and under the terms of that Act it was held in trust for the Commoners; the Trust, which was formed on 30th September 2019 and was incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 31st May 2022 (Registered Charity Number: 1199156), took it over from the original trustees on 1st December 2022 as provided for by a new Act of Parliament - the Monken Hadley Common Act 2022.

Most of the Common is registered under the Commons Registration Act 1965 and its status as a common was not affected by the change in the ownership of the land and, though the Commoners no longer play any part in its management, their grazing rights were not affected by this change, either, notwithstanding the fact that these rights have not been exercised for very many years.

Under the terms of its Constitution the Primary Objects of the Trust are:

The preservation of Monken Hadley Common as a place for peaceful open air public recreation and enjoyment; and
The conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the Common for the benefit of the public, having regard to the requirements of good forestry and the desirability of conserving flora and fauna.

Since the Trust is a membership-based charity it is the members who will appoint the future trustees, and it is therefore they who will ultimately be in control of it.

Draft regulations

The Trust has applied to Defra for approval of draft regulations for the management of the Common which it is entitled to make under the Monken Hadley Common Act 2022. The draft regulations can be viewed on this site and any comments that you wish to make should be made by email to Defra at accessheoteam@defra.gov.uk on or before 30 November 2024. You may also email comments to williamboyes@btinternet.com who is one of the trustees of the Trust.

Latest News

Although the Trust does not have a 'News' section on our website we aim to provide occasional updates of recent activity and future plans.

AGM Minutes

Please find attached the AGM minutesof meeting 28/10/2024.

'Bund'

Users of the Common may have seen notices placed by Enfield Council regarding the planned introduction of a drainage 'bund' on the Common to the south east of Parkgate Avenue. The Trust supports the project as it will improve a very wet and therefore inaccessible part of the Common and hopefully stop homes being flooded after extreme rainfall. The ‘bund’ will be a relatively small area with raised sides into which excess rainfall will flow and then gradually drain through the usual system. It is expected that work will start in the next few months and be complete in the spring. It should not take long to construct but exact dates are not yet known.

Paths

As regular users of the Common will doubtless have noticed, brambles are spreading across many of the smaller and less used paths. Our Volunteers (see ‘Vacancies Corner’ on the website if you are interested in volunteering) try to keep the paths clear however the wet summer has meant the brambles are winning just now. Please feel free to join us on a Tuesday or Thursday morning to keep trimming.

Bakers Hill & carpark

The surface of the car park at Bakers Hill has deteriorated over recent years, particularly the entrance. Tarmac has recently been laid at the entrance and hollows filled elsewhere in the carpark. This has been done in an effort to increase use of the car park and reduce parking on Bakers Hill. Parking on Bakers Hill narrows the road inappropriately (large trucks need access to the railway and utilities running across the Common) and damages the Common. In due course, now the carpark surface has been improved, bollards will be placed at the unofficial lay-bys along Bakers Hill to stop parking.

Tree work

We have recently undertaken a review with our arboriculture advisor and noted trees which need or may need attention in the future. Trees have been marked accordingly to help future identification. We will only reduce or remove trees if or when safety becomes an issue for users of the Common.

Funds

As users of the Common will realise, it costs a substantial amount annually to maintain the Common as a safe and pleasant environment which is open to all. Work, as outlined above, costs a great deal. The Trust urges those who use and enjoy the Common to contribute whatever they can in an effort to support the Trust. Membership is open to all - see the Membership tab on the website, and as a registered charity the Trust welcomes donations, small and large!

Vacancies corner

Woodlands volunteer - we are looking for someone with expertise on woodlands in general to join either as a volunteer or, possibly, as a trustee. Please contact treasurer@mhctrust.org.uk for more details.