As well as the news reported here, we can provide expert comment and analysis for broadcast, print and online media about the UK’s parks and green spaces and the impact they have on building happy and healthy communities. Please get in contact to make an enquiry about our Media spokespeople.
Policy: A missed opportunity to make planning work for health and wellbeing
In his latest blog, our Policy and Communications Officer, Maxwell Patterson, reflects on the recent amendments made to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill in the House of Lords.
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POLICY: Green Space Index finds more access to local parks required
This year our annual Green Space Index looks at the walkability of neighbourhoods and finds that 6.1 million people have no park or green space within a ten-minute walk from home.
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PROTECT: Fields in Trust and The City of Edinburgh Council join forces to protect green spaces for good
A reception at the Scottish Parliament last night focused on the need to protect more of Edinburgh's green spaces for good and asked local businesses and communities across the capital to get involved to help this happen.
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PROTECT: Five decades of sporting memories protected forever in South Tyneside
A green space in the South Tyneside village of Cleadon has been protected forever to ensure it will always be there for the community to use and enjoy.
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POLICY: Green space does us the world of good
In her latest blog, our Policy Manager, Alison McCann, reflects on recent news and the importance of prioritising green space provision for our communities.
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Chrisie Byrne - An Appreciation
We were incredibly sad to hear that Chrisie Byrne has passed away. Chrisie was a force of nature - a tireless and tenacious campaigner for her community and a huge supporter of our work at Fields in Trust.
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HRH The Prince of Wales hosts Reimagining Green Spaces Roundtable
Fields in Trust President, HRH The Prince of Wales, hosted a roundtable yesterday afternoon at which industry leaders discussed how green spaces can help tackle key challenges facing communities now and in the future.
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HM Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)
Fields in Trust are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our Patron, HM The Queen.
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CHAMPION: Blackpool’s Stanley Park is a National Treasure
The winner of England's Favourite Park 2022 was Blackpool's art deco Stanley Park, the third time it has won the national title for England and giving it the coveted status of an English National Treasure.
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CHAMPION: Your UK’s Favourite Parks 2022 revealed
You voted for your UK's Favourite Parks in your tens of thousands and we're delighted to announce the winners.
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CHAMPION: Recognising five ways our UK's Favourite Parks nominees support our mental health
In recognition of the important role of all our nation's parks for our final weekly update we are celebrating all 364 nominated parks and the ways they support our mental health.
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CHAMPION: UK's Favourite Parks nominees in the footsteps of Lionesses
With just two weeks of voting for UK's Favourite Parks remaining time is running out to help a park you love be named amongst the nation's favourites.
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CHAMPION: UK's Favourite Park nominees making a move in the last seven days
As voting reaches the half-way stage, here are the ten parks who've been making a move in the last week.
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CHAMPION: UK's Favourite Park nominees you're making a song about this week
We put the spotlight on the ten UK's Favourite Parks nominees you've really been making a song about with your votes over the last seven days.
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POLICY: Levelling up access to parks to mitigate public health emergencies
At the start of a week in which the value of our nation's parks will once again be in the spotlight our Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, writes about the importance of parks to support public health.
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CHAMPION: UK’s Favourite Parks 2022 'Fastest Starters' revealed
You have already been voting in your thousands for parks across the UK which are close to your hearts. We can now reveal the ten parks who receive our first weekly recognition, as the 'fastest starters' in the public vote.
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CHAMPION: Voting now open to choose your favourite parks
Earlier this summer we launched the search to find the UK's Favourite Parks. You nominated 364 parks across the country. Now is the time to find out which are the UK's favourites, as the public vote opens.
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CHAMPION: The search for the UK’s Favourite Parks returns
The search for the UK's Favourite Parks is back this summer and we're calling on you to get nominating and help us shine a light on the green spaces that hold a special place in the nation's hearts.
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BLOG: Discussing the role of green space in levelling up policy
This week has brought into focus the important role that parks have to play in the levelling up of all parts of the UK. Our Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, has reflected on events at which the multiple benefits of prioritising parks were discussed.
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POLICY: Green Space Index reveals importance of local parks for achieving Levelling-Up
This year our annual Green Space Index analysis of the provision and distribution of parks and green spaces looks at the Government's flagship Levelling-Up agenda.
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POLICY: Stormont legislators join fellow representatives pledging for our green spaces
Five candidates standing in last week's elections in Northern Ireland have been elected having taken our Parks Protector Pledge, growing the number of pledgers to 78 across the UK.
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PROTECT: Let's come together to protect Liverpool's fields forever
We were delighted to discuss with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Park Friends Forum the latest progress in delivering their bold green space vision, along with ways everyone in the community can get involved.
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PROTECT: Wrexham agreement set to ensure 300 protected spaces in Wales
The number of parks and green spaces legally protected forever in Wales is set to hit the 300 mark after Wrexham County Borough Council took the next step in protecting ten country parks.
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BOOK SHELF: Pat Nevin's The Accidental Footballer
In this extract from "The Accidental Footballer", former Chelsea, Everton and Tranmere Rovers player Pat Nevin explains how important green space was to him as a youngster and how it kick-started his love for the game.
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PATRON: Celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of HM The Queen
This year we will be joining with fellow organisations and communities across the country in celebrating the Platinum Jubilee as well as the tenth anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge.
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ENVIRONMENT: Highlighting the need to protect local parks for people and planet
Following the launch of our ParkXtinction campaign earlier this week, Helen Griffiths reflects on the COP26 summit and importance of taking local climate action through robust legal protection of green spaces which will last in perpetuity.
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ENVIRONMENT: Taking local climate action now to protect endangered green spaces
In her latest blog our Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, sets out how local action to protect parks can benefit both people and the planet.
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PROTECT: Wrexham set to expand to 37 number of protected green spaces
Residents in Wrexham will benefit from 37 local parks and green spaces which are protected for good after Wrexham County Borough Council agreed plans to secure the future of ten country parks.
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POLICY: Putting levelling-up into practice for communities across the country
Following the launch of the No Places Left Behind Commission report, Helen Griffiths reflects on its findings and the challenges awaiting The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP.
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GUEST BLOG: "My new found appreciation for outdoor space": a London Marathon runners' story
Libby Smith is taking part in next month's Virgin Money London Marathon to support the work of Fields in Trust. Libby shares the importance of green spaces to her and why she is taking on the world's greatest marathon to protect their benefits.
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Seven parks in Yorkshire to visit on your summer staycation
What better way to relax whilst on your staycation than by exploring a local park or green space - we’ve picked out seven parks we think are well worth a visit whilst on your travels around Yorkshire.
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CHAMPION: Saying thank you to our local parks and green spaces
In our latest staff blog, our Chief Executive Helen Griffiths looks ahead to Thank You Day this weekend and reflects on the importance of our parks and green spaces during the pandemic.
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FIELDS IN TRUST: Latest Impact Report launched at Annual General Meeting
The 2020 Fields in Trust Impact Report was launched at our AGM, which provided an opportunity to reflect on both the importance of local parks during 2020 and the contributions of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to the charity.
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GUEST BLOG: How green spaces support our mental health
In our latest guest blog, Shari McDaid, PhD, Head of Evidence and Impact at the Mental Health Foundation sets out the evidence behind the effects of nature on our mental health as well as addressing the current inequity of access to these benefits.
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POLICY: Green space not equally accessible to all, finds latest Green Space Index launched by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have launched the latest Green Space Index, which reveals that our much loved local parks are not equally accessible to all.
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POLICY: Further 24 elected representatives returned on pledge to protect green spaces for good
We're delighted that a further 24 elected representatives have joined the cohort of policymakers across the UK who have signed the Parks Protector Pledge.
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POLICY: Challenge your candidates to make a commitment to your local green spaces this election
We are calling on candidates in May's Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, London Assembly and Mayoral elections to demonstrate their support for green spaces by taking the Parks Protector Pledge.
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Remembering HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, remembers HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and reflects on the lasting impact his work will have.
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HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021)
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh actively served as our President for 64 years, he recognised the power of parks and green spaces for our physical health and for our mental wellbeing and we are indebted to him for his decades of support
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FIELDS IN TRUST: Senior Parliamentarian Clive Betts MP joins Trustee Board
Sheffield South East MP, Clive Betts, has joined the Fields in Trust Council and will take on the voluntary Trustee role with immediate effect.
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CHAMPION: Seven ways our parks have been there for us; one year on from the start of lockdown
Never before have we appreciated the ability to visit the park quite so much as over the past twelve months. Here's a look at just seven of the ways our local green spaces have been there for us when we've needed them the most over the last 365 days.
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PROTECT: Liverpool City Council makes pioneering commitment to protect all parks and green spaces forever
Liverpool City Council has made a first-of-its-kind commitment to protect all the city's parks and green spaces in perpetuity with Fields in Trust, ensuring they can never be sold off or build on.
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BOOK SHELF: Ten books featuring parks which celebrate the diverse literary contributions of our green spaces
Here is a celebration of just ten of the many works that showcase everything we love about our local parks and green spaces.
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POLICY: A pandemic Budget light on green space
In her latest blog, Fields in Trust Chief Executive Helen Griffiths reacts to the Chancellor's Budget 2021 statement and discusses what it means for parks and green spaces.
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BOOK SHELF: Stuart Maconie's The Nanny State Made Me
In an extract from his latest book, "The Nanny State Made Me", writer, broadcaster and journalist Stuart Maconie celebrates Telford Town Park and the value it delivers for its regular users.
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POLICY: Levelling-up playing fields, parks and green spaces across the UK
In her latest blog Helen Griffiths discussions how the revaluing of local parks and green spaces and their protection in perpetuity can play a pivotal role in the government's levelling-up agenda.
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GUEST BLOG: Supporting our mental health by noticing the nature around us
Our latest guest blog welcomes Claudette Anderson from Go Jauntly, who shares how green spaces have been vital this year, the value of noticing nature and how the latest features in Go Jauntly can help us all to get that daily dose of green space.
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POLICY: Acting on the evidence
In our latest blog Policy Manager, Alison McCann, looks at impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and explains how we are working to act on the evidence and protect parks and green spaces for good for the communities who need them the most.
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PROTECT: Dundee students raising funds to support protection of local spaces
Work to protect parks and green spaces for good in Dundee received a boost recently thanks to the fundraising efforts of students at the city’s Morgan Academy.
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POLICY: People need parks
Following the release of new research relating to parks and green spaces over recent days, in our latest blog Helen Griffiths gives her thoughts on the findings and reflects on the importance of acting on them now.
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Fields in Trust: Protecting Parks for 95 years
8th July 2020 marks the 95th anniversary of the founding of Fields in Trust in 1925. It is clear that then, as now, parks and green spaces are to vital to our health and wellbeing and our collective recovery.
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GUEST BLOG: Can parks put equity at the core of our post-COVID recovery?
Following the release of our 2020 Green Space Index findings, we're delighted to welcome a guest blog from Graham Duxbury.
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CHAMPION: The ten-minute walk and why it’s important
One of five indices in our Green Space Index measures accessibility of parks and green spaces based on the number of people not living within a ten-minute walking distance. Why is it important to measure this, and why ten-minutes?
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POLICY: Latest Green Space Index highlights importance of parks and green spaces
Despite local green spaces being of such value to us all right now, the 2020 release of the Green Space Index finds that 2.7 million people across Great Britain do not have access to such a space within a ten-minute walk of where they live.
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POLICY: Levelling-up the playing fields - our response to the 2020 Budget statement
Read Fields in Trust's response to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's 2020 Budget statement.
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PROTECT: Scottish capital latest to boost local activity levels through Active Spaces
Residents in Edinburgh are the latest to feel the benefits of Fields in Trust’s Active Spaces programme. Two green spaces have been protected in perpetuity by The City of Edinburgh Council under the scheme.
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CHAMPION: New partnership between The Co-op and Fields in Trust will help protect endangered spaces
Fields in Trust is delighted to announce a new partnership with The Co-op which will result in the creation of original policy research into community access to parks and green spaces, and reflect clear synergies between the two organisations.
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PROTECT: Latest benefits of Active Spaces felt in Northern Ireland
The latest benefits of Fields in Trust’s Active Spaces programme are being felt in Northern Ireland, following the opening of a new trim trail at The People’s Park in Ballymena.
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POLICY: Green Space Index shortlisted for industry award
Fields in Trust's Green Space Index has been shortlisted in the Analytical Insights category at Esri UK's annual Customer Success Awards.
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PROTECT: Century of green spaces protected for good in 2019
Over the course of 2019 our work has led to another 101 parks and green spaces across the UK gaining legal protection in perpetuity.
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POLICY: 21 MPs elected with pledge to protect parks
The 2019 UK General Election has seen 21 candidates, representing five parties, who took our Parks Protector Pledge during the campaign returned as Members of Parliament.
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FIELDS IN TRUST: Welcome to our new Chair of Trustees
The Trustees of Fields in Trust are delighted to announce the new chair of the Trustee Board is Jo Barnett, the Executive Director of Virgin Money Giving
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING: The Summer I wasn't expecting
In the latest in our series of staff blogs, Fields in Trust's Head of Programmes, Angela Lewis, writes a personal account of how parks and green spaces have directly supported her well being over the summer.
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GUEST BLOG: Communities Taking Action
Our latest guest blog welcomes Graham Duxbury, national CEO of Groundwork, who discusses the importance of community action and introduces their latest report - Communities Taking Action.
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PROTECTING OUR PARKS: A legal perspective on protecting parks and green spaces
Our penultimate Summer of Parks staff blog comes from our Solicitor, Stanka Dimova, who shares a legal perspective on our work to protect green spaces for good.
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PROTECTING OUR PARKS: Strategic protection of Glasgow’s Dear Green Space
Our latest spotlight shines on Glasgow City Council and looks at how they used evidence to show them where they needed to act in protecting parks and green spaces for the benefit of the city's residents.
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PROTECTING OUR PARKS: What is Fields in Trust protection and what does it mean?
Fields in Trust has been protecting recreational land ever since our founding in 1925. Just what do we mean when we say a space is 'protected' though? How can it be achieved? What does it do?
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING: Why it is worth placing a value on wellbeing?
As our Summer of Parks discusses health and wellbeing, our latest staff blog comes from Policy Manager, Alison McCann, who discusses why calculating the wellbeing value contributed by parks and green spaces is a relevant and important number to know.
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING: Park activities to help you be more active a day at a time
As our Summer of Parks week on health and wellbeing continues we suggest seven simple activities you can do at your local park to help you be more active.
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING: St. Helens’ Sutton Park is an Active Space for the community
This week's Summer of Parks spotlight shines of Sutton Park in St. Helens and how our Active Spaces programme has helped people improve their health and wellbeing in an area identified as having high levels of inactivity.
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING: Do you park the sunscreen?
As our Summer of Parks discusses health and wellbeing we welcome a guest blog from Michelle Baker, CEO of the Melanoma Fund, who shares her top ten tips for protecting your skin whilst at the park.
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UNIVERSALITY OF PARKS: Four generations enjoying Camperdown Country Park
Our latest staff blog comes from Fields in Trust Scotland Manager, Colin Rennie, who shares stories of four generations of his family enjoying Dundee's Camperdown Country Park.
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UNIVERSALITY OF PARKS: Diversity Park - a playground for children of all abilities
Our latest Summer of Parks spotlight shines on Diversity Park in Portstewart and showcases how they have created a play space that all children can enjoy.
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UNIVERSALITY OF PARKS: Ten things to consider when reviewing your local park’s accessibility
As our Summer of Parks discusses universality of parks we look at ten things to take into consideration to help a park be as accessible as it can be.
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ORGANISED SPORT IN PARKS: What playing sport has given me
As Summer of Parks discusses organised sport in parks, our latest staff blog comes from Fields in Trust Wales Manager, Rhodri Edwards, who discusses how playing rugby helped shape him as a person and still provides lasting benefits.
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ORGANISED SPORT IN PARKS: A long innings
This week's Summer of Parks spotlight shines on Sherwood Cricket Club in Kent, who have used Fields in Trust protection to secure their home ground and ensure organised sporting activity in Rochester is safeguarded for future generations.
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PARKS AND PLAY: Not all children experience the sort of outdoor play many of us took for granted
We welcome a guest blog from Marguerite Hunter Blair, Chief Executive of Play Scotland and Fields in Trust Scotland Committee member, who discusses the importance of outdoor experiences for children's development.
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PARKS AND PLAY: Child’s play is a serious business
Our latest Summer of Parks spotlight shines on Kay Park in Kilmarnock, highlighting the work they do year-round to encourage and champion play, including their annual Playday event.
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PARKS AND PLAY: Play Must Stay
We welcome to Summer of Parks a guest blog from Mark Hardy, Chairman of the Association of Play Industries, who reflects on the importance of play and shares their latest research findings.
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PARKS AND PLAY: Play Builds Children
Our Summer of Parks discusses the importance of play for children and how we are putting it at the centre of our work.
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PARKS AND PLANNING: Effective campaigning through the planning consultation process
A look ahead to our upcoming support resource, Watch This Space, and a focus on the case of how effective campaigning helped secure River Lane Sports Pitches in King's Lynn.
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PARKS AND PLANNING: Spotlight on Pentre Felindre urban village
Our latest Summer of Parks spotlight shines on an example in south Wales, examining planning tools and legislation and considering how they can be applied to ensure new developments have sufficient parks and green spaces.
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PARKS AND PLANNING: Frequently asked questions on our Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play
We've been advising on the amount of accessible public open space that should be provided for communities since 1927. Here we take a look at five of the most commonly asked questions we receive on our Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play.
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NATURE IN PARKS: Memories of discovering the natural world at the local park
In our latest staff blog Terry Housden shares memories of how his local park helped him discover nature as a child.
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NATURE IN PARKS: A bee friendly Friends group
Our latest Summer of Parks spotlight shines on Sandringham Park in Wetherby and the work they are doing to increase biodiversity at the park.
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NATURE IN PARKS: Green spaces on former industrial land providing a platform for nature
With London now the world's first National Park City, our Summer of Parks takes a look at four green spaces in the north of the capital which have been rewilded and transformed from industrial sites into havens for nature.
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HERITAGE OF PARKS: Historical tour of Wales' urban parks
Our latest guest blog welcomes Glynis Shaw, a Trustee of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust, who takes us on a journey through the history of some notable urban parks and gives some tips on researching the history of your local park.
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HERITAGE OF PARKS: Spotlight on Cedars Park
Our Summer of Parks spotlight shines on Cedars Park in Hertfordshire and its rich heritage.
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BOOK SHELF: Travis Elborough's A Walk in the Park
Travis Elborough's 'A Walk in the Park' provides a vibrant, loving history of our nation's parks and green spaces. Here we publish the introduction to Travis's book
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SPORTING JOURNEYS: Memories of playing on local green space as a youngster
Our latest staff blog comes from Jamie Leeson who reflects on memories playing sport on the green spaces of Coventry growing up and how it inspires his work protecting parks and green spaces today.
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SPORTING JOURNEYS: Spotlight on Cregagh Green
Spotlight on Cregagh Green in Belfast, where George Best first kicked a football as a youngster and now protected in perpetuity as an Active Space.
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FRIENDS OF GROUPS: Valuing the work of Friends
In our latest staff blog, David Sharman discusses the invaluable role that Friends of groups play in our nation's parks and green spaces.
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FRIENDS OF GROUPS: Spotlight on Friends of Newton Park
This week our Summer of Parks shines the spotlight on the Friends of Newton Park in Trafford, Greater Manchester and how their efforts resulted in the park being protected in perpetuity.
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FRIENDS OF GROUPS: Future Proof Parks
Future Proof Parks is part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund "Kick the Dust" programme, which aims to get more young people interested and involved in preserving their local heritage.
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FRIENDS OF GROUPS: Top ten tips for establishing a group
Our latest guest blog welcomes Sarah Royal from the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces, who shares her tips on establishing a Friends of group.
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PROTECT: 80 years on from the first King George’s Field
Today, 16th July, marks the 80th anniversary of the legal protection of King George V Playing Field in Sonning, Berkshire, identified as "the first field" of the 471 contained within the Final Report of the King George's Fields Foundation.
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