Establishment of the Regulations
Under the Enfield Chase Act of 1777, Monken Hadley Common was originally held in trust by the Churchwardens of the parish church of Monken Hadley, for the benefit of those having “common rights” at that time, which was broadly the owners and occupiers of the 100 or so properties on the Common and in the immediate locality. Over time, this form of management became unworkable, and on 1st December 2022, under the Monken Hadley Common Act 2022, ownership of the Common was transferred to Monken Hadley Common Trust, a charitable organisation, in order that the Common be preserved and adequately managed.
s.10 (1) of the Monken Hadley Common Act 2022 provides that:
On and after the appointed day [1st December 2022], the Trust may make regulations to secure the good management of the Common including for the following purposes:
(a) the conservation of the natural state of the Common;
(b) the preservation of order and the prevention of nuisances on the Common;
(c) the exercise of rights of common; and
(d) to secure public safety
Following public consultation, the Trust has drawn up these Regulations and they have been approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The Regulations came into force on 22nd August 2025, and can be viewed here.
Thanks
The Trust is indebted to several members and Trustees, and to a wide number of external advisors and helpers for their significant work over many years to establish and gain agreement on the Regulations. We are particularly grateful to the Open Spaces Society, and our own Trustee, William Boyes, for his hard work and dedication. To see more information about the establishment of the Trust, take a look at this article from the Open Spaces Society Newsletter, in Spring 2023.
