• LOVE Parks Week 2023, which ended on Sunday, presented an opportunity to focus on the amazing green spaces that we have in Islington.

We know that spending time in parks and green spaces is so beneficial for both our mental and physical wellbeing, and we are working to improve our green spaces to make them more pleasant and welcoming for all, and to enhance biodiversity and to encourage wildlife.

And this sometimes means closing spaces while we carry out transformative projects. An example is the New River Walk where, with the help of expert advice, we are improving the space for people and wildlife.

The New River was full of silt after years of build-up from overhanging trees which, along with the faulty pump system, resulted in poor quality water with little support for aquatic wildlife.

The restoration works involved cutting back some of the overhanging trees and shrubs, installing a new pump system, and planting new wildlife habitats along the margins to encourage biodiversity.

Once the work is complete, and the aquatic and biodiverse plants are established and new trees planted, the New River Walk will be better placed to thrive in a more healthy, biodiverse, and sustainable way.

Work is due to be complete by the end of August and we are looking forward to welcoming Islington’s residents and visitors – both human and aquatic wildlife – back to the improved site.

CLLR ROWENA CHAMPION
Executive Member for Environment,
Air Quality & Transport