Elderly Amble in park

By Josh Spero

THE MAYOR joined dozens of walkers this morning for Islington’s Autumn Amble around one of the borough’s green spaces.

Despite the overcast sky, more than 60 people from all over Islington were guided through Gillespie Park and learnt about its natural resources.

Walker Ann Colls, 64, of Balls Pond Road, said: “It was a stupendous effort.”

Emma Charlton, who organised the event on behalf of Camden and Islington Health Walks, said she was surprised by the “fantastic” turn-out: “We were expecting maybe 30. If it was a really sunny day we couldn’t have coped.”

The Mayor, Councillor Jyoti Vaja, said: “It’s good to see so many people here. The turn-out is excellent.”

After the walk, lunch was provided in the park’s ecology centre and there were workshops in the afternoon. The workshops included a herbalist, a talk on ‘food for free’ which can be found in the park, and stories with a nature theme.

Islington Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is responsible for the borough’s health services, funded the walk, the main cost of which was providing the lunch. Sam Spindlow, a press officer for the PCT, said: “Walking is something the PCT supports. Many older people go to this and the health and social benefits for those who attend are considerable.”

Some of the older people at the Amble remarked on how much they enjoyed the walk and the park itself.

Alexander Ramsay, 72, of Angel, said: “It was nice to have over-55s here. An initiative like this is tremendous and the walkers were very knowledgeable.”

The Mayor said such a park was unusual in a city: “You can’t believe you’re surrounded by two football stadiums – you feel like you’re in the middle of the country.”

The walk was led by a combination of volunteers and park rangers, who explained about the different trees, plants and animals that can be found in the park. Special large signs were put up to show particular points of interest.

It lasted an hour and took in some of the park’s most notable inhabitants, including brightly-coloured goldfinches and hawthorn bushes.