Barnet Vale gardens left dry as council repairs stall

The water feature at Highlands Gardens in New Barnet remains broken, more than a year after residents first raised concerns. A guided walk through three local gardens on 10 July 2026 revealed the fault, which affects the park’s central pond and fountain.

Highlands Gardens opened in 1931 after East Barnet Urban District Council bought the land from the estate of stockbroker Joseph Bevan Braithwaite. The site, once part of the Lyonsdown Estate, was sold to the Great Northern Railway Company in 1849 before development transformed the area around New Barnet station.

Three gardens, three histories

The walk, organised by local historian Dave McCormick, covered Highlands Gardens, Greenhill Gardens and the Incredible Edible Barnet community garden at St John’s United Reformed Church. Each site reflects a different era of Barnet Vale’s growth.

Greenhill Gardens, opened in 1951, sits on land once owned by the Pricklers Estate. The Crown sold the estate in 1558, and the local stretch of the Great North Road still carries the name Pricklers Hill. The council bought the lake area in 1951 after decades of private ownership.

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The community garden at St John’s URC occupies the grounds of St Augustine’s Presbyterian Church, built in the late 19th century. The site now hosts food-growing projects and nature workshops for residents.

Climate concerns and next steps

During the walk, participants discussed how the gardens could adapt to hotter, drier summers. Some plants at the community garden have struggled without rain, while a fig tree has thrived. No formal plans for climate resilience have been published by Barnet Council.

Barnet Post reported that the water feature at Highlands Gardens stopped working months ago, but the council has not announced a repair schedule. Residents can check the council’s parks page for updates, though no public consultation on the gardens’ future has been confirmed.