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Easter service changes

During the Easter period, some of our services will be operating slightly different hours. Our council’s bin collection schedule will change for one week starting on Friday 29 March to make sure everyone’s waste is picked up around the bank holiday.

See the full schedule and your amended rubbish and recycling collection dates and other service changes including parking and library opening times over the Easter period.

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Get Involved - volunteering and activities

How to get involved with your local park.

Islington's parks and green spaces are your parks and green spaces. There are many ways to get involved – for example, by attending a volunteering session led by a community ranger, joining a Friends of Parks group or taking part in one of the many activities on offer.

Volunteer with our community rangers 

Volunteering in an Islington park is a great way to meet new people, improve your physical and mental wellbeing, gain practical skills and give back to your local community.

Below is a series of dates where you can join our community rangers and help with a range of jobs, such as pruning shrubs, creating bug hotels, planting, cultivating soil, composting, litter picking, weeding and sweeping. There is no need to book – you can just turn up. Tools, equipment, protective items, and safety instructions will be provided. Please bring outdoor clothing, gloves, and sturdy shoes or boots.

The meeting places are:

  • Caledonian Park – at the Clock Tower
  • Canalside Square – at the main entrance
  • New River Walk – at the Pump House, Lundy Walk entrance
  • Packington Square – at the main entrance
  • St John's Garden, Benjamin Street – at the main entrance

  • Whittington Park – at the park keeper's building
  • Wilmington Square – at the main entrance
Date Location Time
Friday 16 February 2024 New River Walk, N1 11am-1pm     
Saturday 17 February 2024 Wilmington Square 10am-2pm
Thursday 22 February 2024 Packington Square 11am-1pm
Friday 15 March 2024 New River Walk, N1  11am-1pm
Saturday 23 March 2024 St John's Garden, Benjamin Street 10am-12pm
Thursday 28 March 2024 Canalside Square 11am-1pm
Friday 5 April 2024 Whittington Park
11am-1pm
Friday 12 April 2024 Caledonian Park
11am-1pm
Friday 3 May 2024 Whittington Park 11am-1pm
Friday 10 May 2024 Caledonian Park
11am-1pm
Friday 7 June 2024 Whittington Park
11am-1pm
Friday 14 June 2024 Caledonian Park
11am-1pm
Friday 5 July 2024 Whittington Park
11am-1pm
Friday 12 July 2024 Caledonian Park
11am-1pm
Friday 2 August 2024 Whittington Park
11am-1pm
Friday 9 August 2024 Caledonian Park
11am-1pm
Friday 6 September 2024 Whittington Park
11am-1pm
Friday 13 September 2024 Caledonian Park
11am-1pm
Friday 4 October 2024 Whittington Park
11am-1pm
Friday 11 October 2024 Caledonian Park
11am-1pm
Friday 1 November 2024 Whittington Park
11am-1pm
Friday 8 November 2024 Caledonian Park
11am-1pm

Join a Friends of Parks group 

Friends of Parks groups consist of residents who work together to improve a specific park. They do this through a range of activities, such as organising community events, managing habitats, educating school children, carrying out gardening days, and getting involved in management decisions about the park. 

We are lucky to have many Friends of Parks and similar groups in Islington. To find out more or join, get in touch with one of the groups listed below. 

All Friends of Parks groups are part of the ‘Friends of’ forum which meets regularly to share ideas and discuss matters affecting parks at a more strategic level.

We can also support you in forming your own ‘Friends of’ group. If you're interested, please email greenspace@islington.gov.uk or text 'Greenspace' + your message to 80800. 

To get an idea of what it’s like being a member of a Friends group read Umma’s and Les’s story on IslingtonLife

More activities taking place in Islington’s parks

There are lots of other events and activities taking place in Islington’s parks and green spaces that can help you keep active and connect with your local community.

Caledonian Park regularly hosts free events such as tours of the Clock Tower, guided Health and History walks for all ages and abilities, including dementia-friendly walks, and story time for under 5s. Find out more about events at Cally Park.

There are also frequent events and guided walks at Gillespie Park and Ecology Centre. On the first Friday of every month (excluding Bank Holidays), there is a guided Health and Nature Walk at 10am. This is open to everyone and includes a free tea and biscuits at the Ecology Centre after. The walk particularly welcomes those living with dementia and their carers. Find out more about these walks.

Many of Islington’s parks have sport facilities, such as football pitches, basketball or tennis courts, and outdoor gyms. Find out more about the facilities and whether you need to book, and learn about organised sport sessions in our parks, on our ‘Sport in parks’ page.

For events led by community groups, search our ‘Find Your Islington’ directory. You can also check out The Garden Classroom who run fun sessions in our parks connecting children and families with nature.

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