Pinkham Way Alliance: The Virtues of Pinkham Wood - a reminder

"It is disingenuous to refer to the site of the proposed MBT plant as the Friern Barnet Sewage Works.

"It is NOT a sewage works. It is NOT a rubbish tip. It is NOT the North Circular. It is our green buffer that blocks out the noise from the North Circular. It is our green lung that helps to filter out the noxious gases from the passing traffic. It is Pinkham Wood - local residents have decided that the site needs to have its own identity.

"Pinkham Wood is within a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) of Borough Grade 1 importance – the same as Coldfall Wood and Alexandra Park. Pinkham Wood is designated for its botanical diversity and uncommon plants – Bee Orchid and Golden Dock. 

"Adjacent to the site is the Bluebell Woods and Muswell Hill Golf Club SINC (Borough Grade 1 importance), Hollickwood Park SINC (Borough Grade 2 importance) and it forms the extension to a Green Corridor following the railway line.

Link to photos at

'Pinkham Panthers' web site

"It is true that the site has a checkered history, and it has served as both a sewage works and a rubbish tip. However, over the last 50+ years, nature has reclaimed the site, and it is precisely because it has been abused by human activity in the past that the site has been left alone to flourish.

"Pinkham Wood today is a refuge for wildlife in the area, which spreads out into neighbouring areas. The site has a very quiet and secluded atmosphere.

"Preserving Pinkham Wood as it is, would be in line with a recent government White Paper presented by the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, which promotes the protection of green spaces for wildlife.

"Some of you may also be interested to read this article about Pinkham Wood: Forgotten Spaces: Friern Barnet Sewage Works by J&L Gibbons"