All Discussions Tagged 'parks' - Harringay online2024-03-29T10:25:26Zhttps://harringayonline.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=parks&feed=yes&xn_auth=noGarden and litter picking morning Priory Parktag:harringayonline.com,2023-02-25:844301:Topic:15295812023-02-25T13:43:31.311ZVic Upsonhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/VicUpson
<p>The volunteer gardeners for Priory Park N8 are having an open session on</p>
<p>Sunday 5th March 2023 at 11.00am.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Come and join us for a litter picking and gardening morning, we are a fun group of volunteers who meet every week and enjoy making a difference to our local park.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> Equipment provided, hope to see you there. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> …</span></p>
<p>The volunteer gardeners for Priory Park N8 are having an open session on</p>
<p>Sunday 5th March 2023 at 11.00am.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Come and join us for a litter picking and gardening morning, we are a fun group of volunteers who meet every week and enjoy making a difference to our local park.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> Equipment provided, hope to see you there. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> <a href="https://prioryparkn8.wixsite.com/friends"><span>https://prioryparkn8.wixsite.com/friends</span></a></p> Haringey Green Spaces Strategy consultation - Have Your Say from now until November 27thtag:harringayonline.com,2022-10-12:844301:Topic:15113432022-10-12T11:35:23.551ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p style="text-align: center;">The Haringey Council Parks and Green Spaces consultation is now open until Nov 27th.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The key documents and online survey is available <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/libraries-sport-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-and-greenspaces-strategy-consultation" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">There…</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The Haringey Council Parks and Green Spaces consultation is now open until Nov 27th.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The key documents and online survey is available <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/libraries-sport-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-and-greenspaces-strategy-consultation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">There are also sessions in libraries for those who wish to speak to parks officers and/or are unable to fill in the survey online<a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10839911471?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10839911471?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="550" class="align-center"/></a></span></p> The Collapse Of Green Space Provision In England And Wales: new reporttag:harringayonline.com,2022-06-23:844301:Topic:14950942022-06-23T13:00:55.988ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p><em>"If you are living in a neighbourhood built after the millennium, your local park is more likely to be smaller and you are likely to have to travel further to reach it"</em></p>
<p><span>Neighbourhood green space provision has declined by one third in 21st-century developments, resulting in 9m fewer trips to green space every year, reports NEF</span></p>
<p>Read the article…</p>
<p><em>"If you are living in a neighbourhood built after the millennium, your local park is more likely to be smaller and you are likely to have to travel further to reach it"</em></p>
<p><span>Neighbourhood green space provision has declined by one third in 21st-century developments, resulting in 9m fewer trips to green space every year, reports NEF</span></p>
<p>Read the article <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="https://neweconomics.org/2022/05/exposed-the-collapse-of-green-space-provision-in-england-and-wales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></strong></span></p> Forever Green? Privatisation, neglect and financial gain: why 50 London parks and green spaces are under threattag:harringayonline.com,2022-03-25:844301:Topic:14839742022-03-25T11:40:58.427ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p><strong>Environment campaigners CPRE London have today released a new report <a href="https://www.cprelondon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/Forever-Green-March-2022.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Forever Green?</a> identifying more than fifty parks and green spaces under threat from development in London and, as the local elections approach, they are calling for borough councils to take action. These include…</strong></p>
<p><strong>Environment campaigners CPRE London have today released a new report <a href="https://www.cprelondon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/Forever-Green-March-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forever Green?</a> identifying more than fifty parks and green spaces under threat from development in London and, as the local elections approach, they are calling for borough councils to take action. These include <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/Ac3Lj4pakEEwRW2C7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Remington Road, N 15</a> and a number of sites nearby in Enfield and Hackney.</strong></p>
<p>Alice Roberts, Head of Campaigns at CPRE London said: “Nothing is safe: all kinds of green space - from public parks, including historic and even royal parks, to vast areas of Green Belt, sports pitches, recreation grounds, open fields, nature reserves and green spaces in housing estates - are coming under threat. Many of the sites have protected Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land status.</p>
<p>“Developers and borough councils are often behind the threats. And even Premier League football clubs Spurs and West Ham are in on the act, looking to profit from deals with councils – Spurs to build a training facility on Whitewebbs Park in Enfield, West Ham to build a new development centre, kicking out grass roots football club Bealonians’ from playing fields in Redbridge.</p>
<p>“This situation is extremely alarming. London only has half the green space it needs for a population its size and the limited green spaces we have are coming under more pressure since the start of the pandemic despite their growing importance. Meanwhile, attacks on Green Belt threaten loss of countryside around London while leaving rundown brownfield sites unused.</p>
<p>“Threats nearly always relate to money one way or another because land is worth much more if it can be developed. This is exacerbated because there is currently no mechanism that provides robust legal protection for parks and open spaces in London.</p>
<p>“The planning system doesn’t seem provide adequate protection anymore either. Despite welcome policies in the London Plan and positive action by some Boroughs, the national reforms in 2012 have opened the system up to greater challenge, so if you can argue that building on a green space is ‘sustainable development’ then that seems to trump all protections. Obviously that is arguable but it just creates a bonanza for lawyers and puts the party able to pay for legal support in the strongest position.</p>
<p><br/> “As a result the protection of London’s green spaces ultimately falls to local communities who are prepared to fight for them. Often they don’t have the necessary expertise or resources. Even so, there are many local groups prepared to campaign – and we, and others like the London Gardens Trust, help them as far as we can.”</p>
<p><br/> Alice Roberts concluded:<br/> “Urgent action is needed to address these growing threats. We now want all those standing for election to Borough Councils to commit actively to identify green spaces under threat; and positively plan, with local groups, to save those spaces. Where a borough council is actively involved in creating a threat, we are urging them to think again.</p>
<p><br/> “Ultimately, we need effective legal and planning policy protection for our precious green spaces. That may well mean new legislation and changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. Until effective protections are in place – your local park is only as safe as the communities who befriend it and are prepared to fight for it.”</p>
<p>Read the report <a href="https://www.cprelondon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/Forever-Green-March-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> [pdf]</p>
<p>And <a href="https://youtu.be/ys8JuzJ-te8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a reminder</a> of why small green spaces are important to defend and maintain for local communities</p> New research looks at the lofty aspirations versus the reality of how local authorities care for green spacestag:harringayonline.com,2020-10-02:844301:Topic:12990612020-10-02T17:15:36.166ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>Is an Astro-Turf football pitch a green space? A roof garden?</p>
<p>In some local authorities they are counted even if users must book and/or pay to use them. Why? So that LAs can meet unrealistic targets they have set themselves to increase urban green space on their patch.</p>
<p>Many people don't realise that parks and green spaces do not receive statutory funding despite the wealth of evidence that they are good for people's physical and mental health. As a result, when spending cuts…</p>
<p>Is an Astro-Turf football pitch a green space? A roof garden?</p>
<p>In some local authorities they are counted even if users must book and/or pay to use them. Why? So that LAs can meet unrealistic targets they have set themselves to increase urban green space on their patch.</p>
<p>Many people don't realise that parks and green spaces do not receive statutory funding despite the wealth of evidence that they are good for people's physical and mental health. As a result, when spending cuts need to be made or money raised, parks and green spaces are targeted for selling off, privatising or neglecting. </p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7993654096?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7993654096?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="250" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>People like parks, they like <strong><a href="https://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=trees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trees</a></strong> and planting, so often LAs create policy aspirations that are always going to fail.</p>
<p>Take tree planting. Lots of people like to show up to plant trees, it makes a great photo op for local councillors and looks good when asked about how a LA is tackling climate change and air quality. The brutal truth is that 50% will fail in their first year because they are in the wrong place, planted at the wrong time (tree planting is best done in winter when they are dormant but who wants to dig holes in the freezing cold?), they are placed in compacted soil or the same people that turned out to plant them don't then come back to water them through our increasingly hot summers.</p>
<p>An LA just up the road made a huge deal about about creating a new "urban forest' with the charity Trees for Cities on Hackney Marshes with lots of photos and fanfare but were less keen to answer the questions about how most of the saplings had died. It suddenly became Trees for Cities problem. </p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7993656459?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7993656459?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="250" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>Meanwhile, mature trees are felled to make way for new developments, sometimes in <strong><a href="https://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/trees-felled-on-easter-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blatant defiance</a></strong> of tree protection orders but sometimes with the council's blessing. We'll just plant more they say but, as the great botanist and tree expert Oliver Rackham observed, <span>"Tree-planting is not synonymous with conservation; it is an admission that conservation has failed"</span></p>
<p>Is it entirely the fault of local authorities? No, of course not. Policy makers at national level put pressure on councils to set these targets while not making parks funding statutory and starving them of funds.</p>
<p>The truth is that environmental charities and aspirations can't fill the gap left by lack of money. Parks must be funded to reflect the essential benefit they provide to our mental and physical well-being. </p>
<p><em>Read the article about the new research <strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/why-political-decision-making-is-failing-our-urban-green-spaces-145649" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></strong></em></p> New Historic England listings for post-war landscapes, parks and gardenstag:harringayonline.com,2020-08-21:844301:Topic:12799752020-08-21T11:30:08.796ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>I know there's a few fans like myself of post-war architecture and planning on the forum so I'm sure they'll be interested in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/21/jammie-dodgers-ponds-everyday-marvels-win-protection-historic-england-gardens-trust?CMP=share_btn_tw" rel="noopener" target="_blank">this announcement</a> of the listing of a number of post-war landscapes, parks and gardens by Historic England.</p>
<p>There are a fair few in London although none closer to…</p>
<p>I know there's a few fans like myself of post-war architecture and planning on the forum so I'm sure they'll be interested in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/21/jammie-dodgers-ponds-everyday-marvels-win-protection-historic-england-gardens-trust?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this announcement</a> of the listing of a number of post-war landscapes, parks and gardens by Historic England.</p>
<p>There are a fair few in London although none closer to us than the Golden Lane Estate or Camden but if anyone is thinking about some Autumn Ambles to take in a bit of 20th century history there's some interesting places on the list.</p>
<p>Read <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/21/jammie-dodgers-ponds-everyday-marvels-win-protection-historic-england-gardens-trust?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more</a></p>
<p><a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/best-post-war-parks-gardens-and-landscapes-protected/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">List of newly protected sites</a> on Historic England</p>
<p></p> Free online talk about the creation of Clissold Park tonight (6th August) at 7pmtag:harringayonline.com,2020-08-06:844301:Topic:12755062020-08-06T14:25:13.227ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p><strong>45min free talk, streamed live on YouTube, describing in vivid detail the dramatic campaign in 1886-8 to save Clissold Park from development.</strong></p>
<p>Clissold Park wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for a passionate local campaign in the 1880s to save to then private estate from development.</p>
<p>As the last remaining open space in the area, the prospect of losing it to the “jerry builder” prompted concerned local residents to mobilise and lobby various bodies to raise the…</p>
<p><strong>45min free talk, streamed live on YouTube, describing in vivid detail the dramatic campaign in 1886-8 to save Clissold Park from development.</strong></p>
<p>Clissold Park wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for a passionate local campaign in the 1880s to save to then private estate from development.</p>
<p>As the last remaining open space in the area, the prospect of losing it to the “jerry builder” prompted concerned local residents to mobilise and lobby various bodies to raise the funds to purchase the park for the public.</p>
<p>In this 45min presentation, Amir Dotan will describe the story of the turbulent campaign using rich archival material, which came to light only a few years ago. </p>
<p>The talk will begin at 7pm on Aug 6th, 2020.</p>
<p>Please post questions you have in the chat during the talk.</p>
<p><strong>A link to the live stream is included at the bottom of the confirmation email you'll receive when you book a ticket.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Book <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saved-by-the-people-the-creation-of-clissold-park-tickets-115791362081" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></strong></p> Finsbury Park Toilets now open and staffedtag:harringayonline.com,2020-07-20:844301:Topic:12714682020-07-20T10:04:15.177ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>The Finsbury Park toilets re-opened last week, councillor Kirsten Hearn announced on Twitter.</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7039438273?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7039438273?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="250"></img></a></p>
<p>The toilets will be cleaned regularly throughout the day and now have attendants in order to keep them safe for everyone to use. </p>
<p>For more park updates, check the Haringey Council…</p>
<p>The Finsbury Park toilets re-opened last week, councillor Kirsten Hearn announced on Twitter.</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7039438273?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7039438273?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="250" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>The toilets will be cleaned regularly throughout the day and now have attendants in order to keep them safe for everyone to use. </p>
<p>For more park updates, check the Haringey Council <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/libraries-sport-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/changes-parks-during-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pages</a></p>
<p></p> Royal Parks trialling traffic bantag:harringayonline.com,2020-07-14:844301:Topic:12701332020-07-14T13:40:46.665ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>The trial projects include:</p>
<ul>
<li>In Bushy Park, restricting all through traffic with a partial road closure between Teddington and Hampton Court Gates</li>
<li>In St James’s and Green Parks, closing the Mall and Constitution Hill to traffic on Saturdays, in addition to the regular Sunday closures</li>
<li>In Greenwich Park, a full-time closure of the Avenue to cut through vehicle traffic</li>
<li>In Hyde Park, trial closures of North Carriage Drive permanently, and South Carriage…</li>
</ul>
<p>The trial projects include:</p>
<ul>
<li>In Bushy Park, restricting all through traffic with a partial road closure between Teddington and Hampton Court Gates</li>
<li>In St James’s and Green Parks, closing the Mall and Constitution Hill to traffic on Saturdays, in addition to the regular Sunday closures</li>
<li>In Greenwich Park, a full-time closure of the Avenue to cut through vehicle traffic</li>
<li>In Hyde Park, trial closures of North Carriage Drive permanently, and South Carriage Drive on Saturdays, in addition to the regular Sunday closures</li>
<li>In Richmond Park, reducing cut through motor vehicles<span> </span></li>
</ul>
<p>It's always a bit of a mystery to me why cars are permitted in parks in the first place.</p>
<p>Let's hope these trials are successful and the movement spreads to other parks..cough.. Finsbury Park...cough..</p>
<p>Read more <a href="https://www.royalparks.org.uk/managing-the-parks/park-strategies/the-royal-parks-transport-and-movement-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p> Re-opening of playgroundstag:harringayonline.com,2020-07-04:844301:Topic:12678872020-07-04T10:11:21.042Zmichaelwhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/michaelw
<p>Playgrounds are permitted to re-open from today, however it looks like most won't be yet, but will open over the next few weeks:</p>
<ul>
<li>Haringey <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news/our-parks-phased-reopening-facilities" rel="noopener" target="_blank">are suggesting that</a> playgrounds are only opening in the second half of July</li>
<li><a href="https://hackney.gov.uk/playgrounds" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hackney says</a> they are checking facilities this weekend and that…</li>
</ul>
<p>Playgrounds are permitted to re-open from today, however it looks like most won't be yet, but will open over the next few weeks:</p>
<ul>
<li>Haringey <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news/our-parks-phased-reopening-facilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are suggesting that</a> playgrounds are only opening in the second half of July</li>
<li><a href="https://hackney.gov.uk/playgrounds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hackney says</a> they are checking facilities this weekend and that it "<em>hopes to reopen play areas and outdoor gyms in parks from next week</em>."</li>
</ul>
<p>Please add more info in the comments as you see facilities that are open!</p>