All Discussions Tagged 'parks and green spaces' - Harringay online2024-03-29T06:19:31Zhttps://harringayonline.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=parks+and+green+spaces&feed=yes&xn_auth=noNominate your favourite park for UK's favourite parks (until 5th July)tag:harringayonline.com,2022-06-23:844301:Topic:14950412022-06-23T10:45:51.761ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>Run by Fields in Trust, you are asked to nominate your favourite park.</p>
<p>Any publicly accessible local green space is eligible to be nominated and all you need to do is tell them a bit about why it is so special to you and attach a photo.</p>
<p>Nominations are now open and will close at noon on Tuesday 5th July, so you don't have long to make sure your favourite park is in the running!</p>
<p>All eligible nominations then progress to a public vote.</p>
<p>Voting will open at the…</p>
<p>Run by Fields in Trust, you are asked to nominate your favourite park.</p>
<p>Any publicly accessible local green space is eligible to be nominated and all you need to do is tell them a bit about why it is so special to you and attach a photo.</p>
<p>Nominations are now open and will close at noon on Tuesday 5th July, so you don't have long to make sure your favourite park is in the running!</p>
<p>All eligible nominations then progress to a public vote.</p>
<p>Voting will open at the beginning of July and run for six weeks. At close of voting the parks with the most votes in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be named National Favourites and the overall winner the UK's Favourite Park 2022.</p>
<p>Any park placing within the top 20% of nominations will receive recognition as a Local Favourite.</p>
<p>Find out more and nominate <a href="https://www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p> Green Flag judge expresses concern at "serious failings" on their return visit to Finsbury Parktag:harringayonline.com,2019-01-24:844301:Topic:11470092019-01-24T20:16:43.435ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>Return visits to both Finsbury and Downhills Park were made on the 21st December 2018.</p>
<p>Although the judge acknowledges the progress made at Downhills, they still regard it as "at lowest end of the range of Green Flag Award scores" and recommend strategic investment. Read their report <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/downhills_park_-_21_december_2018.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a></p>
<p>For Finsbury Park, the judge has stronger words. The…</p>
<p>Return visits to both Finsbury and Downhills Park were made on the 21st December 2018.</p>
<p>Although the judge acknowledges the progress made at Downhills, they still regard it as "at lowest end of the range of Green Flag Award scores" and recommend strategic investment. Read their report <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/downhills_park_-_21_december_2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p>
<p>For Finsbury Park, the judge has stronger words. The full report is <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/finsbury_park_-_21_december_2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and is a grim read. They highlight how the use of the park as an entertainment venue has caused serious damage</p>
<p><em>Finsbury Park is a flagship park in the borough of Haringey and currently it is in very poor condition. The events held in the park each year, and the day to day usage of the site cause damage in the short, medium and long term. The repairs that are currently being carried out on site appear to be ad-hoc and not part of a long term management and maintenance plan. In the early 2000’s this site received significant investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund and it is disappointing for this Judge to revisit this site and see this investment has not been built upon.</em></p>
<p>and they conclude that,</p>
<p><em>The seriousness of the failings within Finsbury Park goes far beyond the challenges raised by the Green Flag Award. Not only does it not fulfil even the basic demands of the Green Flag Award it is far below the standards even the most understanding of the general public should be demanding. An exceptionally depressing and worrying experience all round.</em></p>
<p>Naturally LBH have again challenged the findings, deeming them "unfair" and their response and a comment from the cabinet member responsible, <span>Kirsten Hearn,</span> can be found <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/libraries-sport-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/green-flag/green-flag-reports-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p>
<p></p> Two more parks in Haringey lose their Green Flag status: Chestnuts and Paigntontag:harringayonline.com,2019-01-17:844301:Topic:11457522019-01-17T17:01:55.019ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>In a third round of "mystery shopping" by Keep Britain Tidy, two more parks have been red flagged. This brings the total to nine out of twenty two parks that Haringey manage that don't meet the standards with a further nine giving cause for concern. Only four parks met the required standards, two of them, Fairland and Railway Fields, in Harringay.</p>
<p>The parks found not to comply with the minimum standards for a Green Flag this time were Chestnuts and Paignton. The challenges that…</p>
<p>In a third round of "mystery shopping" by Keep Britain Tidy, two more parks have been red flagged. This brings the total to nine out of twenty two parks that Haringey manage that don't meet the standards with a further nine giving cause for concern. Only four parks met the required standards, two of them, Fairland and Railway Fields, in Harringay.</p>
<p>The parks found not to comply with the minimum standards for a Green Flag this time were Chestnuts and Paignton. The challenges that Haringey Council made to five of the findings in the second round were not upheld and those parks continue to be red flagged.</p>
<p>Chestnuts Park, which many of us in the area use, was found to need...</p>
<p>"... an increase in maintenance general maintenance standards, sweeping up and clearance of weeds. The play area netting needs replacing. Ensuring the play area is checked on a regular basis and issues addressed. Graffiti needs removing Litter needs collecting and bins emptying A plan of action to repair / resurface the footpath needs to be identified. Consideration needs to be given to improving the poor entrances. Knee rail fencing needs repairing and replacing Basketball nets replaced."</p>
<p>The report goes on to state,</p>
<p>"Unfortunately the site does not currently meet the minimum standard for the Green Flag award but once these areas are addressed there is no reason why this park will not regain the award."</p>
<p>The full report on Chestnuts can be found <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/chestnuts_park_-_8_november_2018_red.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p>
<p>Reports on all the parks are available <a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/libraries-sport-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/green-flag/green-flag-reports-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p> Five more Haringey parks are red flagged by Keep Britain Tidytag:harringayonline.com,2018-12-17:844301:Topic:11395572018-12-17T19:28:08.325ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>Word reaches me that five more parks were red-flagged in a second round of mystery shopping.</p>
<p>They are Albert Rec, Woodside Park, Bruce Castle Park, Priory Park, and Markfield Park.</p>
<p>At present the reports on these are not publicly available as the council are challenging some of the findings as reported below</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401653927?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401653927?profile=original&width=550" width="550"></img> <br></br></a></p>
<p><strong>First…</strong></p>
<p>Word reaches me that five more parks were red-flagged in a second round of mystery shopping.</p>
<p>They are Albert Rec, Woodside Park, Bruce Castle Park, Priory Park, and Markfield Park.</p>
<p>At present the reports on these are not publicly available as the council are challenging some of the findings as reported below</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401653927?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401653927?profile=original&width=550" width="550" class="align-full"/><br/></a></p>
<p><strong>First Round Reports now available</strong></p>
<p>The reports on the first round of mystery shopped parks are now available on the Haringey Council website <strong><a href="https://www.haringey.gov.uk/libraries-sport-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/green-flag/green-flag-reports-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></strong></p>
<p>The urgent work needed to bring Downhills Park back up to Green Flag level is being done and a walk around there last week revealed new benches, bins, paths and playground equipment as well as weeded beds and barely a bit of litter to be seen. The park is back to its beautiful self once more, let's hope it can be kept that way. It is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful green spaces in Haringey</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401736587?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401736587?profile=original&width=750" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401738573?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401740637?profile=original&width=750" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401743356?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/401743356?profile=original&width=750" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p> Finsbury Park and Downhills Park lose Green Flag statustag:harringayonline.com,2018-11-03:844301:Topic:11310922018-11-03T17:24:59.897ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>It's been revealed today at the Haringey Parks Forum that two parks Finsbury and Downhills have lost the coveted Green Flag status and have been requested to "suspend flying the flag" until improvements have been made. </p>
<p>Winning sites are <a href="http://www.greenflagaward.org/how-it-works/judging-process/mystery-shopping" rel="noopener" target="_blank">"mystery shopped"</a> in alternate years and this year not only have two sites failed to meet the requirements but seven others have…</p>
<p>It's been revealed today at the Haringey Parks Forum that two parks Finsbury and Downhills have lost the coveted Green Flag status and have been requested to "suspend flying the flag" until improvements have been made. </p>
<p>Winning sites are <a href="http://www.greenflagaward.org/how-it-works/judging-process/mystery-shopping" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"mystery shopped"</a> in alternate years and this year not only have two sites failed to meet the requirements but seven others have been given an amber grade showing areas of concern. I don't have information on which parks/green spaces have been identified but I am currently trying to find out which seven they are and will update when I do.</p>
<p></p> Is time running out for UK Parks?tag:harringayonline.com,2018-06-21:844301:Topic:10912032018-06-21T12:04:09.033ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058775953?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058775953?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> Haringey's Dave Morris, in his capacity as <span>Chair of the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces, says so. </span></p>
<p><span>He continues,</span></p>
<p><span>“Budget cuts to staffing and maintenance are leaving them vulnerable to neglect and deterioration, or even sell offs. Many people think local councils are legally responsible for maintaining local parks…</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058775953?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058775953?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-left"/></a>Haringey's Dave Morris, in his capacity as <span>Chair of the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces, says so. </span></p>
<p><span>He continues,</span></p>
<p><span>“Budget cuts to staffing and maintenance are leaving them vulnerable to neglect and deterioration, or even sell offs. Many people think local councils are legally responsible for maintaining local parks and open spaces but unfortunately, unlike waste collection, that’s not the case yet.”</span></p>
<p><span>And as the group launch a 'Charter for Parks', he calls on politicians </span>“to take action to ensure these essential and highly-popular public resources are properly funded, managed, maintained, and protected for current and future generations.”</p>
<p>Dave adds: “As the voice of the movement of more than 6,000 local Friends of Parks Groups throughout the UK we [<span>National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces] </span>recognise the immense contribution that these community volunteers are playing. Now it’s time for government to show an equal commitment to act. The public will not forgive political leaders who let the sun set on the UK’s parks.”</p>
<p>The Charter calls on ministers in England, Wales and Scotland to make it a legal requirement for all parks and green spaces to be maintained and managed to a “good standard.”</p>
<p>It also calls on them “to recognise the right of every citizen to have access within walking distance to a good-quality public green space.”</p>
<p>To add my own 2p to this, I can't recall where I saved this quote from but for me it encapsulates the current crisis in parks, libraries and public space very well</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058716895?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058716895?profile=original" width="581" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>More from the Graun <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/21/time-running-out-for-uk-parks-government-told" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p> The Conservation Volunteers newsletter: what's on in Februarytag:harringayonline.com,2015-01-30:844301:Topic:7214382015-01-30T12:19:26.888ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058672382?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058672382?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058672638?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058672638?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058672382?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058672382?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058672638?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2058672638?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"/></a></p> The council finally release the details of the new 'Parkforce' scheme for Parkstag:harringayonline.com,2008-08-07:844301:Topic:584002008-08-07T11:24:32.782ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
The council have finally decided to open a consultation on the 'Parkforce' scheme that sees the disappearance of the parks police to be replaced by a major increase in the number of parks staff within the borough's parks, along with much closer working links with police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, other agencies and local residents.<br />
Residents can learn more about the proposals and give their views by filling out a new online survey…
The council have finally decided to open a consultation on the 'Parkforce' scheme that sees the disappearance of the parks police to be replaced by a major increase in the number of parks staff within the borough's parks, along with much closer working links with police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, other agencies and local residents.<br />
Residents can learn more about the proposals and give their views by filling out a new online survey<br />
<a href="http://www.haringey.gov.uk/index/community_and_leisure/greenspaces/parkforce.htm"" target="_blank">here</a><br />
or can get an old fashioned paper one from Haringey's Parks Service on 020 8489 5662 or emailing parks@haringey.gov.uk. The questionnaires will also be made available at cafes in Finsbury Park, Priory Park, Albert Road Recreation Ground and Bruce Castle Museum.<br />
<br />
The deadline for responses is Friday 26 September.<br />
<br />
<i>From the council website:</i><br />
"The new Parkforce scheme is supported by the Metropolitan Police and is in line with government policy to encourage more people to make regular use of parks.<br />
<br />
It would be administrated through five new parks zones, linked to current Area Assembly areas and based on the number and area of open spaces in each zone.<br />
<br />
The scheme includes:<br />
<br />
* A new cross-borough Parks Response Unit (managed by the Metropolitan Police) based at Finsbury Park, to support Safer Neighbourhood Teams across the proposed five new parks zones.<br />
* Outreach Officers covering each zone, responsible for delivering a wide variety of programmes and activity across the five Parkforce areas, such as conservation works, organised sports sessions, supervised play and arts activities.<br />
* Increased frontline parks staff (more than 17,000 additional hours per year) to engage with users, Friends Groups and Safer Neighbourhood Teams and provide increased presence at the busiest times of the year.<br />
* Plans to work with the Parks Friends Forum to establish new Parkforce Community Warden volunteering opportunities, aimed at monitoring and improving standards.<br />
<br />
The council has also agreed to enter negotiations with Hackney and Islington councils around funding for more police officers for Finsbury Park, which borders both boroughs.<br />
<br />
A final decision on the Parkforce proposals is expected to be made by Haringey Council's Cabinet later this year."<br />
<br />
<b>Would be nice surely to have some exhibitions in the Parks about this scheme and maybe some people to explain it on certain days. Isn't this the usual we've already made up my minds and we are going to bung a survey at you so we can tick the consultation box?<br />
Although a number of people,including parks forums, have told us they support this scheme we have had little explanantion as to why this is a superior scheme to what we have and what has appeared to be successful. I am open to being convinced but just when is someone going to get around to giving reasons not description? Do they think that just because I am in the sandpit that I am not capable of understanding the arguments?</b>