During 2024, Clissold Park User Group continued to hold public meetings where park users could raise issues and discuss matters affecting Clissold Park.

CPUG’s recorded activities during the year included work on biodiversity, volunteering, cycling concerns and park signage. Meetings also covered accessibility, the café, toilets, drainage, the splash pad, the former paddling pool area, self-closing gates and the park’s animals.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity was a focus of CPUG activity during 2024.

A Nature Recovery meeting was held in February to discuss biodiversity in Clissold Park and ways to involve park users. The March meeting minutes record that 27 people attended and that 13 volunteered to continue the discussions.

In June, CPUG’s Biodiversity Representative reported on a study carried out by volunteers. The meeting record states that 61 plant species were identified on the day of sampling and that 20 breeding bird species had been identified.

CPUG paid for lavender that was planted around the Butterfly Dome to encourage pollinators.

Later in the year, CPUG funded bird boxes and hosted three bat walks in September and October.

Volunteering and community involvement

CPUG took part in World Cleanup Day in September. The November meeting record describes the event as having a significant volunteer turnout.

CPUG also had a stall at the FreeWheelin Feastival. The November meeting record states that 329 survey responses were received and 20 new members were recruited at the stall, as well as merchandise being sold and information provided about CPUG initiatives.

During the year, the group discussed restarting regular litter-picking and other volunteering sessions in the park.

Cycling

Cycling speeds through the park were raised at several meetings during 2024.

The March meeting recorded complaints about bikes and delivery riders travelling too quickly through the park. Possible responses discussed included more signs, speed roundels and a cycling day of action.

Plans for a cycling awareness event continued to be discussed later in the year. By November, CPUG was in discussions with Dr Bike and park management about a possible cycle repair and cycling awareness event.

Signage

Park signage was discussed throughout the year.

In June, CPUG discussed carrying out its own review of general and interpretative signage and seeking views from park users.

By July, a review of signage and contact information on park noticeboards and the website had begun.

Later in the year, CPUG compiled an updated list of emergency and other contacts for use on its website, social media and around the park.

Accessibility

Accessibility was raised in relation to Clissold House, park paths and the playground.

In March, disabled access to Clissold House was raised and CPUG asked Clissold Ward councillors to take up the issue.

Later in the year, concerns were recorded about the difficulty of navigating some park paths in a wheelchair and requests were made for more disability-friendly equipment in the playground.

Clissold House and the café

The closure and future of the Clissold House café were recurring subjects during 2024.

In March, CPUG’s then Chair reported that she had written to the Mayor of Hackney and the Council’s Cabinet member responsible for procurement and finance about the café procurement process.

The procurement and future café arrangements continued to be discussed at subsequent meetings, including accessibility and the requirements of the new contract.

Splash pad and former paddling pool

The operation of the splash pad was discussed during the year, including its late opening and communication when it was unavailable.

The future of the former paddling pool area was also raised at meetings. The meeting records show that CPUG continued to ask for information about the proposed consultation on its future use.

Toilets, drainage and gates

The condition and future improvement of the park toilets were discussed at several meetings, along with signage directing people to alternative toilets when facilities were closed.

Drainage problems in the park were also raised during the year.

CPUG continued to raise the long-running issue of self-closing gates in the playground and other dog-free areas. In November, the meeting record noted that CPUG had made repeated attempts to obtain an update on the proposed design and installation.

Animals and wildlife

The park’s animals and wildlife were discussed at meetings during the year.

Following the death of one of the park’s goats, concerns were raised about the remaining goat. Animal welfare and information for park users continued to be discussed later in the year.

CPUG during 2024

At the July AGM, Sophie Cameron stood down as Chair and Alexandra Hamit was elected Chair.

The AGM also recorded a number of existing and new representatives covering areas including biodiversity, park history, dogs, the skatepark, runners and older people.

Further representative roles were filled later in the year, while CPUG continued to seek volunteers for other areas of interest.

Find out more

This page provides a summary of activities and issues recorded in CPUG’s meeting documents and other group records from 2024. It is not intended to be a complete record of everything that happened in Clissold Park during the year.

Where an issue was discussed by CPUG but an activity or outcome was the responsibility of Hackney Council or another organisation, it is described as a subject of discussion rather than as work carried out by CPUG.