Memorial benches

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The Greenspaces team is supportive of the needs and principles of memorial benches in parks and open spaces.

We will regulate requests and maintenance for memorial benches, for everyone’s benefit.

We are responsible for reviewing all applications for memorial benches in Barnet’s parks and open spaces.

You can’t apply for a memorial bench for your pet.

New memorial benches come with a plaque made from cast iron. We do not offer plaques on their own.

All memorial benches have a fixed term contract of 10 years. After this, you can pay to extend your contract for another 5 years.

About memorial benches

Memorial bench applications will be considered on a first come first served basis.  

You can either request a new bench in a new location, or new bench in a location where a bench already exists, and the existing old non memorial bench will be removed. 

There is limited availability of locations for new benches. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. 

We recommend that you identify 2 potential locations for a bench.

We will try and accommodate your preference for the bench site and location. We reserve the right to offer an alternative location if the preferred site/location is unsuitable.

Plaque inscription

The plaque, made from cast iron, measures 9 x 2.5 inches/ approx. 229mm x 64mm. This provides space for a verse or dedication of up to 36 characters per line for 5 lines including spaces. We do not provide any other style or size of plaque.

We will not grant more than one memorial plaque per bench.

When we confirm a location for the memorial bench you will need to provide the wording for the plaque.

Cost for a new memorial bench with plaque

The charge for a memorial bench with plaque varies according to the style of bench. For uniformity only one style of bench is within each park.

You can ask about availability if the park you are interested in is not listed.

Prices include:

  • Bench
  • Plaque
  • All fixings
  • Admin fee
  • Base

The fees are variable as an existing bench may need removal and/or a base may already exist.

Lionhead bench:

Lionhead bench with plaque on paved slabs

Available at:
Basing Hill, Big Wood, Bittacy Hill Park, Brook Farm Open Space, Childs Hill Park, Edgwarebury Park, Elm Park, Friary Park, Greenhill Park, Greenlands Open Space, Hendon Park, Highland Gardens, New Southgate Rec, Princes Park, Ravenscroft Park, Simmonds Mead Open Space, Stonegrove Park, Sunny Hill Park, Swan Lane Open Space, Watling Park.

Indicative cost: £1980.26

RN6 bench:

RN6 bench with plaque on paved slabs

Available at:
Barnet Playing Fields, Boysland Open Space, Cherry Tree Wood, Colindale Park, Finchley Way Open Space, Fletchers Gardens, Halliwick Recreation Ground, Heybourne Park, Lyttelton Playing Fields, Malcolm Park, Montrose Playing Fields, Oak Hill Park, Rushgrove Park, Silkstream Park, Stoneyfields Park, Tudor Park, Windsor Open Space.

Indicative cost: £1970.26

Wooden bench: 

Wooden bench with plaque on paved slabs

Available at:
Hadley Common, Northway Gardens, Northway Extension.

Indicative costs:

  • £951.26 with a base consisting of 4 paving slabs
  • £851.26 with a base consisting of a grass plinth

Cost for extending existing bench for 5 years

At the end of the 10 year term there is an option to retain the memorial bench with plaque for a further 5 years. All fees are reviewed yearly.

Indicative cost: £321.34

Price includes:

  • Admin fee
  • Refurbishment at the start of the 5 year extension

Apply for a memorial bench

Email a completed memorial bench application form (ODT, 28 KB) to parks@barnet.gov.uk

In the application form please provide:

  • Contact details of the applicant including telephone number and email address.
  • Two potential locations for the memorial bench

Application process

Once we have received your application, we will investigate and say whether the first or second choice location is available. You will then be asked for the wording for the plaque.

Processing of applications for memorial benches is all year round. You will be sent a final draft of the designed wording for the plaque, for approval.

Once the bench location has been agreed with our team the full fee will be payable. An invoice will be sent to the email address on the application form, payment can be made by debit/credit card.

After approval it may take up to 20 weeks for the installation of a new bench and plaque. This is dependent on whether a suitable bench is in stock or requires to be manufactured.

Maintenance and refurbishment

During the 10 year period reasonable repairs for the bench will be in the care of the council. No maintenance by the purchaser, their family, or their representatives should take place.

Refurbishment is possible in year 5 of the 10 year period for an extra cost. The June 2022 price for this work is £295 (subject to change).

The refurbishment includes:

  • replacing any broken parts
  • sanding down the paintwork
  • respraying the paintwork

We will contact the purchaser with the original contact details given. We will provide the current price and ask if they wish this work done.

Removal of the bench happens at the end of the 10 years. This is unless the original purchaser has signed a new 5 year agreement.

If a memorial bench is damaged or lost within 6 months of installation the council will replace it. You will not be charged for a replacement bench. The council will do this on one occasion during the 10 years.

If the bench is lost, or damaged beyond repair again, it will be removed and not replaced. The purchaser of the original bench will be notified. 

We do not hold insurance cover for the damage, loss, or destruction of benches. Wooden benches are more susceptible to damage than metal benches.

Sponsor a Celebration tree in Barnet

We've partnered with the charity Trees for Streets for residents to sponsor a Celebration tree in a local park to commemorate a life event, or as a gift.

Find out more on the Sponsor a tree in Barnet page. 

Alternate memorial options in Barnet