During 2025, 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 litter picks, biodiversity activities, work relating to cycling in the park and fundraising. Meetings also covered accessibility, park facilities, animals and wildlife, and proposed changes to the park.
Volunteering and biodiversity
CPUG’s monthly litter picks restarted in April.
Bird surveys and bat walks took place during the year. The May meeting minutes record that 33 people attended a bat walk.
CPUG also sought eco-volunteers for work including building up dead hedges in the wooded area and loosening compacted soil.
Water lilies were placed in the New River during the year.
In February, CPUG published the Clissold Park Biodiversity Report.
Cycling and pedestrian safety
Cycling in the park was discussed at several meetings during the year, including concerns about cycling speeds and e-bikes.
CPUG made plans for a cycling awareness event involving Dr Bike.
Cycling and pedestrian safety continued to be discussed later in the year, including in relation to proposals affecting crossings and entrances around the park.
Accessibility and the playground
Accessibility and plans for improvements to the playground were discussed during the year.
Issues raised included the provision of play equipment for disabled children.
Self-closing gates for dog-free areas were also discussed. At the May meeting, CPUG agreed to keep the issue on its agenda after being told that the parks department had been unable to find a suitable design for the existing fencing.
Clissold House and the café
Clissold House and the café were recurring subjects at CPUG meetings during 2025.
Issues discussed included accessibility and opportunities to sell CPUG merchandise through the café.
Fundraising
A CPUG quiz and auction at Clissold House in September raised £1,280 towards a defibrillator for the park.
The requirements for purchasing and installing a defibrillator were subsequently discussed with Hackney Council.
Animals and wildlife
The park’s animals and wildlife were discussed at meetings during the year.
Subjects recorded in the meeting documents included the goat and goat enclosure, the aviary and feeding wildlife.
Park facilities and other issues
Other subjects discussed during CPUG meetings included the renovated public toilets, the former paddling pool site, park signage, paths and gates.
These are included here as issues discussed by the group rather than as projects delivered by CPUG.
CPUG during 2025
CPUG held six public meetings during 2025, including its AGM in July.
The meetings provided opportunities for park users to hear updates, raise questions and discuss issues affecting Clissold Park.
Find out more
This page provides a summary of activities and issues recorded in CPUG’s meeting minutes, Chair’s reports and other group records from 2025. 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.