WATCH: Waverley Councillor Jane Austin discusses illegal encampments in her constituency
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A community of travellers have set up an illegal encampment in a leafy London suburb, home to multi-million-pound properties.
The settlement, containing at least 12 caravans, has appeared on the Muswell Hill playing fields, near the picturesque Coldfall Wood nature reserve in North London.
Drone footage of the site, first spotted last week, shows it already littered with patches of scorched grass, believed to be from makeshift fires.
The footage of the encampment also appears to show vehicles registered with both British and Irish number plates.
Taking to social media, one resident claimed to have seen a “big orange gas tank” arrive on the site.
Images from the site show nearby police presence, but it is unclear whether the group has been served an eviction notice.
The Muswell Hill site is a regular spot for traveller encampments, and this arrival is the latest in a string of settlements.
In August last year, a community of at least 15 caravans descended on the same playing fields, with locals witnessing travellers riding “horse drawn carts” along the pavements.
The encampment was eventually moved on by the authorities after backlash from local residents.
In June 2018, Muswell Hill residents witnessed a smaller gathering of caravans at the nearby Albert Road Recreation Ground, close to a children’s playground.
The police served the travellers with an eviction notice and were expected to leave within 48 hours, Haringey Council said at the time.
The site is under the control of the local borough council and is understood to be aware of the current illegal encampment.
In Nottinghamshire, travellers sparked outrage among locals after leaving their illegal campsite a mess after being ordered to leave by the council.
Travellers set up the site over the Good Friday bank holiday in 2025, working overnight to build roads, remove hedges, create entrances and put up fences on the land.
According to Newark and Sherwood District Council, the travellers also set up electricity and water supplies to create 40 pitches on the site.
The council then served a planning enforcement notice and continued to pursue legal action.
After a hearing at Nottingham County Court, the occupiers were issued a final injunction order requiring them to stop operating the land as a caravan site and return it to its original condition by January 15, 2027.
Delivering the ruling earlier this month, His Honour Judge Owen said the works had been carried out over a bank holiday to ensure they were completed “with a degree of secrecy”.
He described the operation as “pre-planned and well-orchestrated”.
Haringey Council has been contacted for comment.
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