Get Involved - volunteering and activities

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

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. 

• Arlington Association
• Friends of Barnard Park - email: friends@BarnardPark.org
• Friends of Caledonian Park - email: friends@CaledonianParkFriendsGroup.org
• Friends of Duncan Terrace and Colebrooke Row Gardens
• Friends of Fortune Street Park
• Friends of Gillespie Park
• Friends of Graham Street Park - email: GrahamStreetPark@gmail.com
• Highbury Fields Association - email: queries@HighburyFieldsAssociation.org or membership@HighburyFieldsAssociation.org
• Newington Green Action Group - email: info@NewingtonGreen.org
• Friends of the New River Walk - email: contact@CanonburySociety.org, phone: 020 7359 8315 (leave a message for Jack Lambert)  
• Friends of Paradise Park (opens Facebook page)
• Friends of the Parkland Walk - email: FOParklandWalk@gmail.com
• Friends of Rosemary Gardens (opens Facebook page) - email: FriendsOfRosemaryGardens@gmail.com 
• Friends of Wray Crescent Open Space

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.