It’s finished at last. The new Packington Estate, four years late in completion, was finally officially opened in September, exactly 12 years since work began.

We are pleased to announce we now have a Happy To Chat bench in Arlington Square. The idea came from Allison Owen-Jones in Cardiff, who noticed an elderly man sitting alone on a bench in a busy city centre park, ignored by passers-by.

The annual Angel Canal Festival takes place on Sunday 1 September 11am–5pm.

The newly formed Friends of Union Square Gardens enjoyed their first volunteer gardening day in early March.

This year’s Islington Proms will provide the usual mix of topquality music – and more besides.