CPUG’s most important role is to provide a forum for people to raise concerns and questions about what is happening in the park. We do this via in-person meetings and social media.
There are many ways in which you can get involved with the User Group and contribute to the life of the park.
Come to our public meetings
We meet for an hour every few months in Clissold House. The meetings are short and informal. We always have a lot to discuss but we try to make sure that everyone who wants to gets a chance to speak. We also hold occasional extra meetings to look at issues of special interest or concern.
On most issues there will be a range of views and so we try to make sure we have all the facts and understand all the viewpoints. In many cases we then take up the issues with the relevant bodies, usually the park management team of Hackney Council.
Issues that are frequently discussed include the playground, dogs in the park, cycling in the park and biodiversity.
Dogs in the park
We regularly receive correspondence about dogs and dog walking in the park, covering a wide range of issues from dangerous dogs to dog fouling and incidents involving dog walkers and those without dogs.
Dogs can roam freely in the park but need to be under the control of their owners. In some areas they must be kept on leads and there are some designated gated areas of the park where they are not allowed at all. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times on the upper café terrace and on the grass slope in front of the house and are not allowed inside the house/café or in the toilets.
The Council, working with the User Group, drew up a leaflet Lead by Example to explain the rules and expectations around dogs. The Park Management team is working with the Enforcement team at Hackney Council and the Enforcement team regularly visits the park.
» View the Lead by Example leaflet [PDF]
In 2023 Hackney Council are consulting on changes to the Dog Control Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which controls how dogs are managed in Hackney. See the consultation which closes on November 19th 2023:
» Hackney PSPO consultation
Cyclists
The signs and path markings placed at some gates asking cyclists to slow down have been useful and the council is looking into having them replicated at all the gates.
Clissold Park biodiversity report
This report looks at the importance of Clissold Park for nature conservation. The park has three million visitors a year and a rich biodiversity that needs to be preserved.
The report looks at the management of the park in relation to Hackney’s Biodiversity Action Plan and includes:
- Grassland areas, including the deer enclosure
- Wildflower areas
- Tree and shrub planting
- The woodland track
- Ornamental flower and shrub beds
- Water habitats
- Butterfly dome and Bowling Green
- Invasive species
» Read the Clissold Park biodiversity report (Word)
Keep in touch in other ways
Join our mailing list to receive our regular newsletter and notifications of our meetings.
Find us on Facebook for online discussions, updates and to post your photos. And on Twitter @clissoldpeople
Fundraising
Please contact us if you would like to help with fundraising or have any ideas. Email: info@clissoldpark.com
We run occasional fundraising activities to raise money for community events and, on occasions, to pay for specific things in the park. For example:
- producing and selling a park calendar
- organising historical and literary talks in Clissold House
- raising money for the restoration of the memorial drinking fountain including a donation of £1,500 from the Drinking Fountains Association and Hackney Council.
In recent years we have hosted two very successful quizzes that funded a wide range of free activities and entertainment at 125th birthday party in June 2014 including bicycle maintenance, soft play for toddlers, arts and crafts activities, storytelling and music for all ages.
Look out for posters and information on the park noticeboards.