On Sunday, Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, attended the annual Woodland Festival at the Glebelands and Coppetts Wood Nature Reserve.
The festival was held in the Ancient Woodland section of the nature reserve. Entertainment included arts and crafts, a scarecrow fancy dress competition, morris dancers, bird spotting, children’s face painting and plants for sale. It was also any opportunity for Barnet’s wildlife groups to highlight their local campaigns. All monies raised will be ploughed back into maintaining and enhancing the nature reserve.
Glebelands and Coppetts Wood was designated a Local Nature Reserve by the Borough of Barnet in 1997 and was once part of Finchley Wood. It stretches for a mile from Colney Hatch Lane in Theresa’s constituency to the North Finchley Lido.
Theresa said, “This was a great day out for families. I congratulate Oliver Natelson and the whole team who organise this event every year. They put a huge amount of effort into the festival which is an excellent way to remind people about Coppetts Wood and encourage them to visit the nature reserve."
“The nature reserve is a great asset to Barnet. It’s amazing to think that this tranquil wood, which is home to so many plant and animal species and enjoyed by so many people, can flourish in the midst of busy suburbia, just yards from the North Circular.”