Barnet Countryside Centre

Barnet Countryside Centre is a nature reserve in High Barnet, managed by the Friends of Barnet Countryside Centre. It covers 3.3 hectares and was once a playing field before becoming an environmental education centre in 1975. The site includes native woodland, small ponds, and open areas. It supports a variety of wildlife, including birds, frogs, newts, dragonflies, butterflies, and insects. The Friends of the centre maintain the reserve, though public access is restricted. The centre was nearly redeveloped in 2009 when Barnet Council gave planning permission to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. The nature reserve remains intact but is no longer open to the public. Visitors can still view it from Byng Road and a footpath between Byng Road and Cavendish Road. The site continues to serve as an educational resource despite the changes. The reserve provides a quiet green space in an urban area. Its woodland and ponds create a habitat for local wildlife. The Friends organise educational activities for schools, though these are not open to the public. The site remains an important spot for nature conservation in Barnet.