View source for Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Islington

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[[Image:hugh myddleton islington green 1.jpg|thumb|right|Statue of Sir [[Hugh Myddleton]], surmounting a fountain at the southern end of [[Islington Green]]. (November 2005)]]
The [[London Borough of Islington]] is short of large '''parks and open spaces''', given its status in recent decades as a desirable place of residence. In fact, Islington has the lowest ratio of open space to built-up areas of any London borough. The largest continuous open space in the borough, at 11.75&nbsp;hectares (29 acres), is [[Highbury Fields]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.islington.gov.uk/sports-parks-and-trees/parks-and-green-space/your-local-parks/highbury-fields|title=Highbury Fields &#124; Islington Council|website=www.islington.gov.uk}}</ref>
Islington has access to large open spaces in neighbouring [[London borough]]s. The Islington district of [[Finsbury Park (area)|Finsbury Park]] is next to the southern end of [[Finsbury Park]], in [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]]. The "Green Route" of the [[Regent's Canal]] tow path provides access to [[Regent's Park]] to the west &ndash; in [[London Borough of Camden|Camden]]; and [[Victoria Park, East London|Victoria Park]] to the east &ndash; in [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]]. Many other open spaces such as [[Clissold Park]] in [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]] are situated on the borders of the borough. Islington also contains many well-kept public squares and greens, such as [[Canonbury Square]] and [[Thornhill Square]].
Because of the perceived open space deficit, many small [[community garden]]s grew up in Islington from the 1970s on. Created and maintained by local residents on sites made derelict by [[the Blitz]] and redevelopment, not all have survived, but one notable remaining example, open to the public, is Culpeper Community Garden, near the [[Angel, London|Angel]].
== List of open spaces ==
[[Image:Caledonian Park, Islington, London - geograph.org.uk - 287732.jpg|thumb|right|Caledonian Park]]
[[Image:HIGHTER1.JPG|thumb|right|Highbury Terrace on [[Highbury Fields]], the borough's largest open space.]]
[[Image:Islington Tunnel waymarker type 1.jpg|thumb|right|Waymarker for the [[Islington Tunnel]] walk]]
* The [[Artillery Ground]] is an {{convert|3.2|hectare}} open space on the edge of the city. It has belonged to the [[Honourable Artillery Company]] since 1638. While it is not normally open to the public, the ground contains many sports facilities that are used by local schools
* Barnard Park, {{convert|3.66|hectare}}
* [[Bunhill Fields]] is a {{convert|3.2|hectare}} burial ground,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/City_Gardens/bunhill.htm |title=Bunhill Fields |access-date=2011-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613031504/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/City_Gardens/bunhill.htm |archive-date=2011-06-13 }}</ref> adjacent to the Artillery Ground. It contains many dissenter burials, including [[Daniel Defoe]], [[John Bunyan]] and [[William Blake]]. It is administered by the [[Corporation of London]]. Part contains historic graves; but part is laid to a pleasant and quiet park.
* Caledonian Park, {{convert|7.40|hectare}} - on the site of the former [[Caledonian Cattle Market]] once the biggest cattle market in North London
* [[Charterhouse Square]], {{convert|0.80|hectare}}, former burial ground converted into a garden square
* [[Claremont Square]] is a former reservoir that is closed to the public
* Compton Terrace Garden, {{convert|0.38|hectare}}
* [[Crouch Hill Park]] is located about halfway along the [[Parkland Walk]]
* Duncan Terrace Gardens & Colebrook Row Gardens, {{convert|0.77|hectare}}
* Elthorne Park, {{convert|2.45|hectare}}
* [[Finsbury Square]], {{convert|0.70|hectare}}
* Fortune Street Park, {{convert|0.36|hectare}}
* [[Freightliners City Farm]] is in [[Lower Holloway]]. This small urban farm contains a wide range of animals from rabbits to cows to chickens and pigs
* [[Highbury Fields]],<ref name="auto"/> {{convert|11.75|hectare}}
* [[Islington Green]], {{convert|0.32|hectare}}
* Jewish Burial Ground, {{convert|0.51|hectare}}
* [[Joseph Grimaldi]] Park, {{convert|0.51|hectare}}
* King Square Gardens, {{convert|1.18|hectare}}, is a park in the [[St Luke's, Islington|St Luke's]] area
* Laycock Street Open Space, {{convert|0.89|hectare}}
* Market Road Gardens, {{convert|1.1|hectare}}. The [[Copenhagen Tunnel]] lies directly underneath.
* New River Walk including Astey's Row Rock Gardens/Astey's Row Playground, {{convert|2.09|hectare}} is a linear walk that connects the [[Angel, London|Angel]] and [[Canonbury]] along the banks of the [[New River (London)|New River]]
* [[Newington Green]]
* Paradise Park, {{convert|1.85|hectare}}
* The [[Parkland Walk]] is a linear park along the route of a disused railway line from Finsbury Park to Highgate Woods, a small part of which is in Islington with the rest being in Haringey
* Petherton Green is a linear walk along the route of the [[New River (London)|New River]], which was culverted and covered in 1868–70, and an avenue of trees and grass planted down the middle
* The [[Regent's Canal]] enters the [[Islington Tunnel]], near [[City Road Lock]]. A linear walk is marked through the streets and parks above the tunnel
* Rosemary Gardens, {{convert|2.63|hectare}}
* [[Spa Fields]], {{convert|0.82|hectare}}
* [[St Mary's Church, Islington|St Mary's Church]] Gardens (also known as Islington Parish Church), {{convert|0.69|hectare}}
* [[St Mary Magdalene Gardens]]
* Thornhill Gardens (also known as Thornhill Road Gardens), {{convert|0.28|hectare}}
* Tufnell Park Playing Fields, {{convert|1.92|hectare}}
* [[Whittington Park]], {{convert|4.09|hectare}}
* Wray Crescent, {{convert|2.13|hectare}}
==Garden squares==
* [[Alwyne Square]]
* [[Andersons Square]]
* [[Arlington Square]]
* [[Arundel Square]]
* [[Barnsbury Square]]
* [[Bartholomew Square]]
* [[Canonbury Square]]
* [[Charterhouse Square]]
* [[Claremont Square]]
* [[Cloudesley Square]]
* [[Edward Square]]
* [[Finsbury Square]]
* [[Gibson Square]]
* [[Granville Square, London|Granville Square]]
* [[King Square, London|King Square]]
* [[Lloyd Square]]
* [[Lonsdale Square]]
* [[Milner Square]]
* [[Myddelton Square]]
* [[Northampton Square]]
* [[Percy Square]]
* [[Thornhill Square]]
* [[Tibberton Square]]
* [[Union Square, Islington]]
* [[Vernon Square]]
* [[Wilmington Square]]
* [[Wilton Square]]
==Local Nature Reserves==
There are three [[Local Nature Reserve]]s in Islington, [[Gillespie Park]] ({{convert|2.8|hectare}}), [[Barnsbury Wood]] ({{convert|0.35|hectare}}), and the part of the Parkland Walk which is in the borough.
==See also==
*[[Copenhagen House Grounds]]
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* [https://www.islington.gov.uk/sports-parks-and-trees/ Islington Council list]
* [https://www.parksandgardens.org// Parks and Gardens list]
* [http://www.culpeper.org.uk/ Culpeper Community Garden]
* [http://www.caledonianpark.org.uk/ Caledonian Park]
* [http://www.freightlinersfarm.org.uk/ Freightliners farm]
{{Parks and open spaces in London}}
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[[Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Islington]]
[[Category:Squares in the London Borough of Islington]]