'Love Parks Week' this year runs from 24th July - 3rd August . The aim of the week is to "raise awareness of the importance of parks and green spaces, showcasing the benefits they bring and highlighting the need for continual investment and engagement", especially at a time when public funding has been reduced.
I live a stone's throw from my nearest park which I am lucky enough to be able to see from my kitchen window. It isn't a huge space but is a welcome oasis of green in an area where new homes have appeared at an alarming rate in the last year or so, all swallowing up previously undeveloped land. It's a spot where children go to feed the ducks and to play, informal sporting activities take place, dogs are exercised, office workers sit out and enjoy their lunch and newly weds have their wedding photos taken. It even has its own 'Friendship Garden' (see above photo) which was created to celebrate twinning with a Chinese town. The park is also used throughout the year to host an increasing number of community events.
You can support 'Love Parks Week' in a number of ways. There are special events going on in parks up and down the country this week - see the 'Love Parks Week' website and the 'Love Parks Week' Facebook page. You can complete a park health check of your nearest park. You could also make time to sign the UK Parks Petition which has just been launched by the The National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces. It aims to help makes the funding of parks an election issue for political parties in the run up to the next general election. Above all if you have a neighbourhood park please use it, don't lose it!
Thank goodness for initiatives like this. The importance of parks in the health of communities are undeniably high.
ReplyDeleteYes I certainly agree guys especially in built up area where many folk do not have their own garden!
DeleteIt's so important to have parks available to visit, especially in built up cities. We're so lucky to have some fabulous parks and green spaces near where we live, just as well really as Archie loves visiting them too.
ReplyDeleteThe dogs who I see entering and leaving our park always look happy Jo :)
DeleteWhat a beautiful looking park. My house backs onto large parks and nature reserves, so I do tend to visit them often, but as you say, new housing developments are being slotted in any little space now. I don't know how long it will be before they target some of the green areas here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Paula. I do hope that the developers leave your green spaces well alone.
DeleteWe should certainly cherish all our green spaces. Parks are probably the only way that some children get to be amongst grass and trees.
ReplyDeleteSadly that is often the case Chloris. Parks are a legacy that should be passed on to the next generation and to generations to come.
DeleteThat is a most excellent initiative Anna, we live right next door to our local park, and I am happy to say that it gets plenty of use and plans are afoot to further improve it with better facilities for younger children. I'll check out the references, thank you for posting about it.
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