Enclosing urban green spaces. The fences of Finsbury Park

Fences are one of the defining features of public parks, particularly in England. In other parts of the world, fences have been removed or lowered to make parks more open and accessible. But many park authorities in England have retained perimeter fencing, as they feel it protects people and environments. In this paper, we evaluate justifications for, and attitudes towards, fences; and evaluate how they affect park users, park activities and park inclusivity. We explore specific issues associated with fencing, but also analyse fences to better understand the parklands they delineate. This is achieved by analysing different types of fencing – perimeter and internal, temporary and permanent – in Finsbury Park, north London. Our research found that the priority for users is upgrading perimeter fencing, rather than removing it. Internal enclosures are not seen as a major problem either, although the temporary barriers erected to secure major events are.