The Parks Alliance, the UK’s voice of parks, is backing this year’s Love Parks Week which launches on 24 July as ‘a vital annual event’.
Speaking about the week-long celebration, Mark Camley, Chairman of The Parks Alliance, said: “Love Parks Week highlights the many benefits that our parks contribute to the nation’s well-being. Through its hundreds of events Love Parks Week champions the role parks play in allowing people to enjoy a huge range of outdoor activities, get closer to nature and spend time with their families and friends. It is a crucial event in helping us persuade government, local authorities and other park funders of the value of properly funded and maintained parks across the UK.”
Approximately 2.6 billion visits are made to parks across the UK each year, which equates to 7,123,287 visits per day . Parks give people a place to meet, play, be active or relax. Spending on parks is predicted to be reduced by 60 per cent by 2020.
Love Parks Week launches on 24 July at Valentine’s Park Ilford at 10:30am. Visit www.loveparks.org to find out more.
The Parks Alliance works to:
• Protect and improve the country’s public parks for future generations.
• Increase understanding among national politicians and policy makers of the value of public parks to the current and future quality of life and health in the UK.
• Increase understanding among national and local politicians and decision makers that parks are a crucial part of social and physical infrastructure supporting education, flood control, health improvement, social cohesion, wildlife and helping us adapt to climate change.
• Secure and boost the existing world-leading skills and expertise delivering UK parks as well as quality training and employment opportunities.
• Influence national, regional and local policies and funding decisions that impact on parks.
For further information contact:
Sarah Harrison, communications@theparksalliance.org or 07768 372892