On the first day of the IOG’s Saltex 2014, The Parks Alliance participated in a debate on the future of UK parks.
Andrew Gill, President Elect of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, chaired the debate, which kicked off with a presentation from Peter Neale, principal author of the recent HLF report on the state of the UK’s parks. Points raised from the floor included concerns regarding a loss of skills in the sector, the need to engage with government as a matter of urgency – and getting the balance right between harnessing the skills of volunteers and those of parks professionals.
The debate concluded that parks can indeed be rescued from a looming crisis – and that the HLF’s five point call for action is core to future success. This will form the agenda for The Parks Alliance’s meeting with the Minister for Parks in the Autumn.