Haringey Parks Summit took place in Ducketts Common in September 2023. The event brought together residents, community groups and Friends of Parks along with Councillors and Council officers, to celebrate the borough’s parks and partnerships, and officially launch Haringey’s Parks and Greenspaces strategy.
The event programme was developed by a Working Group that included representatives from Haringey Friends of Parks Forum and The Conservation Volunteers as well as officers from across the Parks and Leisure service.
The programme included talks, workshops and panel discussions on topics related to the aims of the strategy; inclusion, wellbeing and biodiversity.
Panel discussions
What can we do to increase biodiversity in our parks and greenspaces?
With Annabel Foskett - Nature Conservation Officer, Black Rootz, Caroline Jepson - Friends of Lordship Recreation Ground, Russell Miller and Quentin Given (Chair) - Friends of The Paddock.
What does a welcoming and inclusive park look like?
With Anita Yiannoullou - Haringey Walks, Hesketh Benoit - Basketball for All, Liz Ixer - Friends of Railway Fields, Leyla Laksari - Living Under One Sun, Phil Stevens - Disability Action Haringey and Donja Camara (Chair) - 4U2.
How do we build community through our parks and greenspaces?
Spotlight on our People Need Parks programme. Chaired by Lily Labonte and Osama Alzoubi.
Talks
Working with young women on the provision and access of public space
Dr Julia King and Olivia Theocharides-Feldman - LSE Cities.
Ethnic Minority Inclusion and Participation in Urban Greenspace: Good Practices of UK Friends Groups
Nyma Haqqani
What does green space mean to teenagers and how do they use it?
Sara Tofiq – PhD researcher, UCL PEARL.
Workshops
Mapping as a Method For Social Research and Analysis
Dr Julia King and Olivia Theocharides-Feldman – LSE Cities.
Create your own wildlife pond
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV).
Other activities
The event also featured performances, a tree walk with arboricultural and ecological consultant Russell Miller, crafting with Sewn Together, jewellery making with the Trove Market, and sports activities across the site. A wide range of community organisations hosted stalls and over 95 people were involved on the day in delivering the programme.
