Speakers' Corner (had) a well-established history of speaking regularly in Hyde Park. The first official Speakers' Corner outside London opened in Nottingham in 2009. It was officially inaugurated by Jack Straw, the UK Justice Secretary, on 22 February 2009. The designated space occupied a new landscaped extension to the city's Old Market Square, at the junction of King Street and Queen Street. The large paved space includes the new statue of Brian Clough, the former manager of Derby County and Nottingham Forest, who forged ties between the two cities which were famous for local rivalry. Speakers Corner Lichfield was launched in May
Royal Parks of London Parks Agency. The parks were managed by The Royal Parks (an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) until the agency joined with charity The Royal Parks Foundation to form a new charity - The Royal Parks - launched in July 2017. The parks are policed by the Royal Parks Operational Command Unit of the Metropolitan Police (the English section of the previous force policing the parks, the Royal Parks Constabulary, has been abolished). Some funding for the Royal Parks comes from a central government grant. This contrasts with most of London's other parks, which are funded