Duckweed good or bad?
Lots of people have mentioned duckweed on the lakes.....here we try and explain what is happening....
Duckweed is a familiar sight of freshwater ponds, flooded gravel pits and old canals. Broomfield Park is no exception.
As its name suggests, it does provide food for ducks, but it can also provide shelter for spawning Common Frogs and Common Toads. Duckweed is a healthy nutrient for wildfowl and other aquatic wildlife and may contribute to removing pollutants from the water and reduce algal growth.
In normal conditions, duckweed is just another part of the annual cycle of a pond or lake. However, in Broomfield Park we have recently seen vast, green mats of common duckweed that sometimes cover the surface of the lakes. This tiny, single plant groups together to form 'lawns'. Potentially duckweed is not as bad as algae as not as “enveloping” but still blocks out the light and uses available oxygen for all pond life.
The increased water flows after recent changes could have brought an excess of nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates in rainwater systems from local homes and other buildings. The reed beds were recently introduced to try and reduce these pollutants and we should try to develop these further.
For this year (2020) the duckweed cannot be easily removed. It will die off as weather conditions change.
In future years we will be working with the Council and Thames water to:
• Reduce pollution from our rainwater systems at source
• Increase the planting of reed beds to lower pollution
• Introduce more barley bales which help reduce algae and duckweed
• ...........etc
davidartwilliamson • August 5, 2020
The Friends of Broomfield Park had a achieved six Enfield in Bloom awards, including two Golds, three Silvers, and a Bronze, as well as a prestigious individual honour.
All ages welcome as Southgate RFC take up residence in Broomfield Park.
Friends of Broomfield Park were delighted to take part in The Big Draw Festival 2026, joining thousands of organisations around the world celebrating the joy, creativity and accessibility of drawing. This year’s theme, “Make a Mark”, invited everyone to explore drawing as a way of seeing, thinking and connecting — not just creating a finished picture. The event was a great success, with lots of people turning up to unleash their creativity and enjoy trying something new. CLICK TO READ MORE AND SEE PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF THE EVENT
The biggest community event of the year in our area
A new report from the Friends of Broomfield Park volunteer Lakes Team outlines water quality issues, monitoring results, and remedial actions for Broomfield Park’s three lakes, wetlands, and a wildlife pond.
FoBP’s new "Hoverfly Lagoon" family workshop successfully taught children to build micro-habitats.
Calling local musicians, schools, groups & event planners! Help us co-deliver unforgettable live performances to celebrate 100 years of Broomfield Bandstand!
Our beloved bandstand to be given a centenary makeover
Some things we know and others we don't
We want to ensure stories of Broomfield House and park are recorded and shared. Join us as a heritage volunteer to help. No heritage background needed - just curiosity and enthusiasm!
