There are more than 27,000 public parks and green spaces across the UK and Love Parks week brings to our attention the need for these spaces and the benefit they have for our communities. Parks have a great sense of community cohesion as visitors are coming together to actively get outside and boost their physical and mental wellbeing.
Research has shown that getting moving in nature can have a range of mental benefits, including reducing feelings of depression and anxiety. Alongside the physical benefits of outdoor activity, it’s clear why we should be encouraging physical activity in our green spaces and parks. The range of physical activities you can take part it also add to the parks utility as you can start a family game of rounders, run laps or even take a mindfulness moment and try outdoor yoga or pilates if you bring a mat!
Parks and green spaces not only bring together a community, but they provide a space for locals to get active in nature. Parks can be an escape for people that find themselves without local green spaces or they can be an escape from busy day to day life. Walking, running or cycling through a park can be a beneficial escape from daily stresses.
A great aspect of parks is that they’re easily accessible. Most parks are free of charge meaning you can explore and move without having to spend any money and local car parks and paths means that wheelchair users and buggy users can enjoy the space also.
The accessibility and inclusion associated with parks is amazing but it’s important to recognise that some people may not feel safe in these spaces and further work can be done. Studies have shown that women may not feel entirely safe in parks, especially at night, and the work of organisations like the Green Flag Award are helping women and girls by offering guidance and advice for how to feel safer in these spaces (https://www.greenflagaward.org/news/new-guidance-launched-to-create-safer-parks-for-women-and-girls/) .
This Love Parks week why not make it your aim to find some local parks to you and utilise them in a way that works for you! If you feel that you could do more to protect these spaces why not enquire about volunteering opportunities to keep your local green space clean and tidy!
Find your local park or green space here: https://www.activeessex.org/essex-parks-and-open-spaces/
