Stoke Newington Common

Stoke Newington Common lies between Stoke Newington and Clapton and consists of four sections of green space, each with their own character. Although relatively small, the Common provides a much needed and highly valued green space for surrounding residents, escape from busy roads and provides a very popular children's play area. Over approximately 10 years, the work of Stoke Newington User Group (SNUG) has transformed what was a once a neglected piece of derelict land mainly used as a dog toilet, to a vibrant, loved and green park.

A hard day's work for the beetles

Bugs and insects on Stoke Newington Common have a new habitat to explore. A group of boys from the Sonshine Club helped Council staff and Stoke Newington Common User Group (SNUG) to create 'insect loggeries' on the common. Loggeries are made by sinking a pyramid of logs into the ground to provide a habitat for insects, such as the rare stag beetle. These insects then form part of the food chain for birds and other wildlife.

The Council is putting loggeries in a number of parks to provide homes for wildlife. Many insects and bugs need dead wood either for food or shelter, but urban parks often don't have enough to support such an array of insect life. The Sonshine Club is a Charedi Jewish organisation that provides healthy, out-of-school activities for young people. The Council arranged for tools and logs to be on site for the project and two SNUG volunteers taught the young people how to construct loggeries and use tools safely. See article in Hackney Today (PDF, 224KB).

New meadow planted

As part of the 'Mad About Meadows' project, Hackney Council recently planted a new meadow on Stoke Newington Common with the help of Year 1 of Northwold Primary School. 30 pupils aged 4-5 came to a seed sowing session arranged by Hackney Council Parks and the Stoke Newington Common User Group (SNUG).

About the Mad about Meadows project

Hackney Council is working with London in Bloom and LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) to trial the Mad About Meadows project. Mad About Meadows is a London in Bloom initiative that has been inspired by the Olympic Park wildflower meadows. The project aims to increase the number of urban meadows across London. The project is supplying free meadow seeds to Hackney Council, including the new meadow at Stoke Newington Common. The mix of rainbow annuals grows quickly and by mid-summer it will be full of colourful flowers which will attract important wildlife including butterflies and bees.

The meadow creation will also contribute to Hackney's draft Biodiversity Action Plan, which seeks to create 1 hectare (10,000m2) of new meadow over the next five years - that's about the size of one and a half football pitches.