Mabley Green

Mabley Green is a sizeable piece of common land in Hackney Wick in the east of the London Borough of Hackney measuring 35.5 acres (144,000 m²). Originally it was part of a continuous land mass on both sides of the Lee Navigation that formed the Hackney Marshes. in 1915 a piece of the Marshes was taken to create the National Projectile Factory and after World War I, in 1922, this site was used to create the Mabley Green recreation ground.

Mabley Green
Rock in Mabley Green recreation ground
Type	Public park
Location	London, England
Coordinates	51°32′57″N 0°01′57″W
Area	35.5 acres (14.3 ha)
Status	Open year round
Website	https://hackney.gov.uk/article/3322/Mabley-Green

It has an all-weather football pitch, an outdoor gym and basketball hoops.[1]

The large and distinctive rock in the centre of the park was placed there in 2008 as part of an art project. It is designed as a rock climbing or bouldering challenge, having several routes of varying difficulty. It can also be viewed as a piece of sculpture. The stone weighs around 60 tonnes and was quarried in Cornwall.[2]

To ensure adequate provision of football pitches while the East Marsh was being used for Olympic coach parking, the majority of Mabley Green was taken up with football pitches. Most of these are due to be removed from Mabley Green once the East Marsh pitches are restored during 2014.

The User Group constitution expresses the ambition to be the UK's first edible park with fruit and nut trees and bushes available for all to enjoy. As part of a consultation process with the council, these plans are currently being considered along with plans to add another all-weather pitch.[3]

References

1. "Hackney Council - Mabley Green". Hackney Council.
2. "60 tonne granite feature stone, Mabley Green". External Works.
3. Boyle, Sian (25 November 2013). "Hackney gives £100,000 to turn Mabley Green into the park you can eat". London Evening Standard.