Parks and open spaces in London explained

Green space in central London consists of five of the capital's eight Royal Parks, supplemented by a number of small garden squares scattered throughout the city centre. Open space in the rest of the region is dominated by the remaining three Royal Parks and many other parks and open spaces of a range of sizes, run mainly by the local London boroughs, although other owners include the National Trust and the City of London Corporation.

London is made of 40% public green space, including 3,000 parks and totaling 35,000 acres.[1] [2]

Royal parks

The centrepieces of Greater London's park system are the eight Royal Parks of London. Covering 1,976 hectares (4,882 acres),[3] they are former royal hunting grounds which are now open to the public.

Garden squares

See main article: List of garden squares in London. Many of the smaller green spaces in central London are garden squares, which were built for the private use of the residents of the fashionable districts, but in some cases are now open to the public. Notable examples open to the public are Russell Square in Bloomsbury, Lincoln's Inn Fields in Holborn and Soho Square in Soho.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea contains over a hundred garden squares whose use is restricted to residents. The upkeep of many of these spaces (also named for example Crescents, Gardens, Place) is paid for through a levy on top of residents' council tax.[12]

Council parks

In addition to these spaces, a large number of council-owned parks were developed between the mid 19th century and the Second World War.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

London Borough of Wandsworth

London Borough of Lewisham

London Borough of Bromley

Lambeth Council

London Borough of Haringey

Other green spaces

Other major open spaces in the suburbs include:

!name!hectares!acres
Thames Chase9,84224,320[16]
Epping Forest2,4766,118[17]
Wildspace Conservation Park6451,593[18]
Wimbledon Common4601,136[19]
Hampstead Heath320790[20]
Walthamstow Wetlands211520[21]
Mitcham Common182450[22]
Trent Park169418[23]
Hainault Forest Country Park136336[24]
Clapham Common89220[25]
Wormwood Scrubs80200
Wandsworth Common73180
Gunnersbury Park72178[26]
Tooting Bec Common62152
South Norwood Country Park47116[27]

They have a more informal and semi-natural character, having originally been countryside areas protected against surrounding urbanisation. Some cemeteries provide extensive green land within the city — notably Highgate Cemetery, burial place of Karl Marx and Michael Faraday amongst others. Completing London's array of green spaces are two paid entrance gardens — the leader is the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, whilst the royal residence of Hampton Court Palace also has a celebrated garden. All Outer London boroughs contain sections of the metropolitan green belt.[28]

Commons

There are over a hundred registered commons in London, ranging in size from small fragments of land to large expanses.

Lavender Fields

There are two historic lavender fields in the London Borough of Sutton. One, at Oaks Way, Carshalton Beeches is three acres in size and is run as a not-for-profit community project. The other, a 25-acre commercial site in Croydon Lane called Mayfield, is popular with tourists. Situated on the North Downs of Surrey, the locality is ideal for lavender cultivation, owing to the chalky free-draining nature of the soil. It was known as the "Lavender Capital of the World" from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, with global production of the plant centred here and blue fields dotting the area.[29] [30]

Greenways

There are several types of London greenways including The Greenway and the Thames Path.

London National Park City

London was officially declared the world's first National Park City in July 2019. A National Park City is inspired by the family of National Parks but is not the same as a National Park: it is a “large urban area that is managed and semi-protected through both formal and informal means to enhance the natural capital of its living landscape".[31] It is led by volunteers with a network of supporters and backing from councils' including the Mayor of London with activities linking to the Greater London Authorities' Environment Strategy.

The London National Park City was established by the National Park City Foundation [NPCF], which aims to inspire 25 National Park Cities around the world by 2025.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: London 'greenest city' in Europe. edie.net.
  2. Web site: 47 per cent of London is green space: time for a national park?. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/47-per-cent-of-london-is-green-space-is-it-time-for-our-capital-to-become-a-national-park-9756470.html . 2022-05-25 . subscription . live. September 25, 2014. The Independent.
  3. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020207/text/20207w18.htm, Hansard. Written answers for 7 Feb 2002. URL accessed on 17 July 2009.
  4. Web site: 2023-08-16 . Richmond Park The Royal Parks . 2023-10-16 . www.royalparks.org.uk . en.
  5. Web site: 2023-08-16 . Bushy Park The Royal Parks . 2023-10-16 . www.royalparks.org.uk . en.
  6. Web site: The Regent's Park & Primrose Hill The Royal Parks . 2023-10-16 . www.royalparks.org.uk . en.
  7. Web site: 2023-09-11 . Hyde Park The Royal Parks . 2023-10-16 . www.royalparks.org.uk . en.
  8. Web site: 2023-08-21 . Kensington Gardens The Royal Parks . 2023-10-16 . www.royalparks.org.uk . en.
  9. Web site: Greenwich Park The Royal Parks . 2023-10-16 . www.royalparks.org.uk . en.
  10. Web site: St. James's Park The Royal Parks . 2023-10-16 . www.royalparks.org.uk . en.
  11. Web site: The Green Park The Royal Parks . 2023-10-16 . www.royalparks.org.uk . en.
  12. http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/gardensquares/general/default.asp "Your garden square and you"
  13. Web site: Tower Hamlets Council > Leisure and culture > Parks and open spaces > Parks > Victoria Park > Visitor information . . web page . Tower Hamlets Council . 29 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130125021941/http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/451-500/461_parks/victoria_park/visitor_information.aspx . 25 January 2013 .
  14. Web site: Wandsworth Battersea Park . 2013 . web page . Wandsworth Council . 29 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130123123710/http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200073/parks_and_open_spaces/266/battersea_park . 23 January 2013 .
  15. Web site: Brockwell Park. Lambeth Council. 18 February 2018.
  16. Web site: Forestry Commission News Release No. 1656, 1.6 MILLION MORE TREES PROMISED FOR THE EAST OF LONDON. 28 October 1998. Forestry Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606060551/http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/WebPressReleases/5D448E0549A856E48025669F002D0DA5. 6 June 2011. dead. 13 March 2010.
  17. Web site: Epping Forest You & Your Dog. brichure. City of London. https://web.archive.org/web/20110704191340/http://217.154.230.195/NR/rdonlyres/A3CB6563-4D0D-4C35-AC7F-818C28306E79/0/OS_EF_Dogs.pdf. 2011-07-04. dead. 2010-03-13.
  18. Web site: LTGDC launches vision for London Riverside. 19 April 2008. Invest Britain UK regional development and inward investment. https://web.archive.org/web/20111009004022/http://www.investbritain.co.uk/News/Thames-Gateway/Regeneration-%26-Remediation/ltgdc-launches-vision-for-london-riverside.htm. 9 October 2011. dead. 13 March 2010.
  19. Web site: Wimbledon & Putney Commons facts and figures. 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20130828111544/http://www.wpcc.org.uk/commons.html. 28 August 2013. dead. 13 March 2010.
  20. Web site: City of London Hampstead Heath. David Bentley. 12 February 2010. City of London. https://web.archive.org/web/20110513102058/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Hampstead_Heath/. 13 May 2011. dead. 13 March 2010.
  21. Web site: Walthamstow Wetlands Visit Walthamstow Wetlands. www.walthamstow-wetlands.org.uk. 2015-10-27.
  22. Web site: Mitcham Common. Mitcham Common Conservators. 13 March 2010.
  23. Web site: Parks & Gardens UK, Trent Park, Enfield, England. 15 August 2009. web page. Parks & Gardens Data Services Ltd. https://web.archive.org/web/20120226090508/http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/component/option,com_parksandgardens/task,site/id,3305/Itemid,292/. 26 February 2012. dead. 2010-03-13.
  24. Web site: Essex/Greater London Site Name: Hainault Forest. Natural England. 13 March 2010.
  25. Web site: London's heaths and commons. visitlondon.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20091015080510/http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/outdoors/heaths-and-commons. October 15, 2009. dead. 13 March 2010.
  26. Web site: Park | Gunnersbury. www.visitgunnersbury.org.
  27. Web site: South Norwood Country Park - Children's Play Area Design and Access Statement. 27 February 2008. Croydon Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20111008021851/http://planning.croydon.gov.uk/DocOnline/38208_5.pdf. 8 October 2011. dead. 13 March 2010.
  28. Greater London Authority - London's strategic open space network
  29. Web site: Mayfield Lavender. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080530101538/http://www.mayfieldlavender.com/lavender-revival/. 2008-05-30.
  30. Web site: Carshalton Lavender.
  31. Web site: FAQs . London National Park City .

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