In this member blog, Sue Sanctuary of Bristol & Baths Parks Foundation shares the ‘Love Your Park’ campaign:

Remember how it felt to leave your four walls and get out into the park during lockdown? Our parks and green space have been a lifeline for so many of us. They provided respite, space to exercise, places to connect – thrilling us with nature’s incredible signs of thriving and the experience of cleaner air. Research by Fields in Trust states that parks and green spaces save an estimated annual £111 million to the NHS, and the positive impact on our mental and physical health and well-being is unquestionable.

There is no doubt that parks are vital to our communities’ future, and that respecting and enhancing these precious spaces should be a priority for our fast-changing city.

But how to make a difference?  The Bristol & Bath Parks Foundation’s ‘Love Your Park’ campaign aims to support the grassroots volunteers who care about our local green spaces.  These are the litter pickers, the nature lovers, the community ambassadors. Often invisible, these ‘Friends of Parks’ and related local groups have been showing extra love to our parks pre- and post- lockdown.

Indeed, one of the ways to respond to the climate and ecological emergency we face is by supporting your local park.

To donate to the ‘Love Your Park’ campaign visit www.yourpark.org.uk or https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/14122

Nick Burroughs, Chair of the Friends of St George Parks says:

“Getting out in nature in the park has been a lifeline for so many, it would be great if we could pull together to better care for it now. I really hope that people will remember how valuable the park is for everyone and what it means to our future.”

If you are a business or organisation who would like to support a local park and community, please contact Director, Charlee Bennett.

Bristol and Bath Parks Foundation is an independent charity (number 1182217) created through the ‘Rethinking Parks’ programme funded by National Lottery Community Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Nesta, supporting innovative solutions to sustain our parks and green spaces. Its vision is to make parks better places to meet, play, learn, grow, breathe and enjoy nature. For more information visit their website.