Major events such as Wireless Festival are not to blame for the suspension of Finsbury Park’s green flag status, according to the council.

Finsbury Park and Downhill Park are no longer flying the green flag – an award that recognises well-managed parks and green spaces – while the council deals with issues such as graffiti and damaged bins.

Haringey Council rents out space in nine parks and recreation spaces, including Downhills and Finsbury, for events ranging from antiques markets to major music festivals.

But the council said events such as Finsbury Park’s Wireless Festival – which recently had its license reviewed following complaints over noise, drug-dealing, litter damage and other issues – were not linked to the current problems.

Improvements underway at Finsbury Park include maintenance work on some flower beds and the playground, along with repairs to damaged bins, dirty signs and the removal of graffiti.

Problems being dealt with in Downhills Park include low water levels in the pond, branches lying on the ground, maintenance issues in the playground, damaged tarmac, damaged bins and graffiti.

Councillor Kirsten Hearn, cabinet member for environment, said: “In Haringey we have some amazing green spaces and we work tirelessly to keep them in the best possible condition.

“As with many busy London parks, Finsbury Park gets thousands of visitors. We have a comprehensive clean-up programme and spend thousands of pounds on our parks each year.

“We are making improvements to both parks and are keen to work with Keep Britain Tidy to make sure the green flags are flying again shortly.”

The council expects the flags to be back up by the end of the month, when the maintenance work is due to be finished.

It is also creating a new children’s play area, hiring new park keepers and installing CCTV cameras in Finsbury Park.

Clive Carter, trustee of Friends of Finsbury Park, called the green flag suspension “shocking” and “a wake-up call for the council”.

He said: “These two parks have been graded red. This is something that residents see for themselves every day – perhaps we have become inured to the maintenance issues.”

Mr Carter called on the council to release the reports in which the problems at the parks were identified.

He said: “The council seems to regard this as a minor thing. I hope that the green flag awards scheme is going to take a firm line.”

Paul Todd, green flag award manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “In line with the operation of the programme, we sometimes ask sites to temporarily not fly the flag while they are making improvements that have been identified.

“We continue to work closely with Haringey Council to help them deliver quality parks for their residents.”