A family picnic spot will be created as part of plans to spruce up one of the borough’s most popular parks.

The old bowling green at Childs Hill Park will be turned into a “dog-free” picnic area with tables, low fencing and a hedge.

The proposal by Barnet Council was the most popular among users of the park, with 80 per cent of people who responded to a consultation saying they backed the idea.

Childs Hill Park is already a popular picnic spot for families – but some people have complained about being disturbed by dogs while they are eating.

The park will also benefit from an upgrade to the children’s playground surface so youngsters can use it all year round.

It means a grassy area that often becomes muddy and slippery during winter will be given a hard surface after some parents claimed children’s safety was being put at risk.

More benches will be added to the Nant Road side of the park, with some weeds and shrubs removed and a grassy area created.

Childs Hill Park is being spruced up thanks to a £210,000 cash injection from the developer of a nearby block of flats.

The Granville Road Estate development was refused by the council because it would mean building on green space – but the decision was overturned by a government planning inspector.

The planning inspector used a legal agreement to make the developer fund the park improvements as compensation for the loss of outdoor leisure and play space for residents of Granville Road.

Barnet Council’s environment committee unanimously backed the improvements at a meeting on Tuesday (June 4).

Conservative councillor for Childs Hill Cllr Peter Zinkin said: “I believe the money is payable by the developer when they start work.

“I believe they plan to start in the next eight weeks, so hopefully it won’t be too long before this can be put in place. It will be good for the area.”