The 2025 Consultation

Introduction

Every year the trustees of the Friends of Finchley Way Open Space charity conduct a consultation with neighbours and visitors.  In this way the trustees hope to ensure that visitors and local residents have their say in how the site develops.

 

The land is owned by Barnet Council.  This means that the work the charity does has to be agreed with the Barnet’s Greenspaces and Tree teams.  Both have been very supportive over the three years since we started. 

 

The questionnaire link was distributed by email to all Friends on 24th October 2025 and closed on 30th November 2025.  There was also a link on the FoFWOS website and posters on the gates with details of how to access the questionnaire.  A reminder was sent to all Friends on 20th November 2025. 

All responses were anonymous.

 

There were 40 responses to this year’s consultation.  This means that presenting the findings as percentages is inappropriate; raw numbers are given instead.  None of the questions were compulsory, so responses do not always add to 40.

 

About the respondents

Half of the respondents (20) were Friends a further 11 were Friends and volunteered. 

 

The majority of respondents (33) like that the site is within a short walk of their home.  The majority lived within five minutes’ walk of the site (27) and almost all of the rest within lived five to 15 minutes’ walk (8).  Five came from further away.

 

Most (32) of the respondents were aged 50 or over, none were under 30.  Twenty-three were women and 17 were men. 

 

Three respondents went to the site every day and nine went more than once a week but not every day.  Seventeen said that they went less than once a week but more than once a month but five went less than once a month and one had never been to the site.

​

Visiting

Over half of the respondents (24) said that they went to the site because ‘it’s somewhere to go that’s quiet, calm, peaceful, natural’.  Some 16 go for fresh air and five to get out of the house/flat.  Eight said that they went to walk their dog.  Five go to spend time with their partner or friends and seven to take their children. 

 

It is also used as a cut-through and nine respondents said they used it this way. 

 

The majority of respondents (27) said that they go to the site alone, with a further 17 going only with other adults (aged 18 and over).  Twelve went with children.

The majority of respondents (33) visit the whole site when they go; four go only to the Green Field.

 

The most popular reason for going to the site was because it is close to home (33).  For 29 it was somewhere nice to walk and 22 said that they went because it is a haven for wildlife.  Just over half (25) said that they went because it was tidy and well cared for.  Other reasons for visiting the site were: for the trees, shrubs and flowers (29), because there are nice paths (19), it’s a good design (22) and it feels safe (10). 

 

Of the 32 respondents who answered the question on dislikes, 22 said they had none.  Five respondents said that the site did not feel safe but this is against the 10 who said that they liked the site because it felt safe. 

Litter picking is done by volunteers and we ask users to take their litter and dog mess away with them.  All can be left in the bin outside the Finchley Way gate.

 

Respondents were asked what they would like to see changed or added to this site.  The most common comment was to see more planting (15), while seven wanted more seating and seven wanted more information about the history of the site, the plants, and wildlife.

 

Some respondents (3) mentioned better paths for disabled access.  Four respondents said that they have a disability that affects how they enjoy the site.

​

Volunteering

Over half of the respondents (26) had never volunteered but nine volunteer regularly.  People volunteer because they live near the site (12) and because they are interested in the environment (11).  A few (6) come to meet people.  Three come to get ideas for their own garden and one to do something a bit different.

 

The main barriers to volunteering are other commitments (13), lack of time (13) and ill health or age (8).  Two people said that the tasks are not suitable for them or their children and one didn’t like the work.

 

Conclusions

Noticeably fewer people took part in the consultation this year than in the previous years.  Nevertheless, the consultations have generally been positive. 

 

The trustees take on board comments but where this isn’t possible the FAQ page of the website tries to address concerns.