Islington’s beautiful Highbury Fields and hidden beauty of Gillespie Park

From the rolling grass of Highbury Fields to the hidden beauty of Gillespie Park, a huge range of open spaces treasured by local people have been recognised for their excellent quality. Islington’s parks and green spaces provide essential spaces for all of Islington’s communities to enjoy the benefits of being out and about in nature, whether for play, sport, relaxation or socialising. All of the 13 council spaces recognised this year also won the award last year. Alongside the Green Flag Awards for council-run spaces, five community Green Flag Awards were won in the borough. These celebrate the wonderful green spaces in the borough which are run by the local community, awarding those which are welcoming and accessible, well maintained and clean, and also those which are creative and innovative in their management of the site.  As well as providing an essential space for residents to stay healthy, green spaces also provide food and habitat for our bird and insect populations, boosting biodiversity and increasing canopy cover, which in turn supports the council’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Islington’s extensive networks of dedicated volunteers, community groups and council staff have ensured that the boroughs green spaces are kept clean, tidy and beautiful, and have helped to achieve this recognition.  

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality, and Transport, said: “We know that Islington’s green spaces are so important to local people, allowing them to enjoy being outdoors while providing the incredible health and wellbeing benefits of being in nature. We have amazing teams of volunteers who share their time and skills to help keep our parks looking beautiful all year round.

“We are working hard to make our parks more accessible, welcoming, and attractive. The Green Flag awards are a fantastic way to recognise the hard work and dedication of the council and community groups; its a win for everyone who volunteers their time. 

“The awards also celebrate our work to promote biodiversity and support wildlife, which is crucial in our commitment to tackling the climate crisis.” 

The full list of Green Flag spaces in Islington are: Duncan Terrace Gardens, Canonbury Square, Grenville Road Gardens, Kings Square Gardens, Fortune Street Park, Rosemary Gardens , Arundel Square, Whittington Park, Wray Crescent Open Space, Landseer Gardens, Gillespie Park, Caledonian Park and Highbury Fields. 

Community award winners include: The Friends of Barnsbury Square Gardens, the Friends of Paradise Park (for The Mary Tealby Garden), Friends of Granville Square, The Friends of King Henry’s Walk Garden and the Arlington Association. 

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Islington’s parks and greenspace teams on retaining all 19 Green Flag Awards. 

“Parks and green spaces in Islington are vital for communities to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely, and provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health. 

We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that green spaces maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.

It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.” 

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.