Local green spaces celebrated in Leeds as part of ‘Love Parks Week’

Green spaces and parks in communities across Leeds are being celebrated as part of national ‘Love Parks Week’.

Leeds is fortunate to have an array of beautiful parks, and as part of the Love Parks Week campaign which is a national event led by Keep Britain Tidy, the vital and important role that green spaces play in the day-to-lives of communities and residents is both commended and applauded. Also forming part of the Love Parks Week initiative is the call that people please respect their local green spaces and keep them clean and tidy by removing rubbish and waste in an appropriate manner. This ensures that parks continue to look fantastic and reduces the potential different issues and dangers that waste which has been left can pose for visitors, pets and local wildlife.

A range of activities and events are available for all the family to enjoy over the summer at city parks. To support this programme, Leeds City Council has launched a new ‘Love Exploring’ app. The aim of the app is to bring parks and locations across the city alive, populating them with exciting initiatives such as interactive dinosaurs and walking trails. Designed for all ages, the app is set to engage adults and children with their local parks and green spaces, inspiring them to get outdoors and be active. For more information about the Love Exploring app and how you can get involved this summer, please visit: https://bit.ly/LoveExploringLeeds

On offer at city parks across the summer will also include a number of bands who will be displaying their talents at parks including Golden Acre Park and Pudsey Park. Further information can be found at: What's On - Leeds Town Hall. On Friday, July 30, there will also be a special bat detecting event held in the early evening at Meanwood Park hosted by a Park Ranger. For more details on timings and how to book, please contact: countrysiderangers@leeds.gov.uk

Local volunteers, friends of and community groups play a vital role in protecting green spaces and parks in the city, and in Love Parks Week, they have again been commended for their efforts by Leeds City Council. Many friends of and community groups also offer a range of activities and events, including the Friends of Middleton Park and Harehills Bowling Club. To find out more about their programmes, please see via Facebook the following pages: Harehills Park Bowling Club and Middleton Park Friends. Popping in for a visit as part of Love Parks Week to find out more about what is available at Harehills Bowling Club was the council’s executive member with responsibility for parks, Cllr Salma Arif.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for public health and active lifestyles said:

“We are very proud of our wonderful green spaces in Leeds and delighted to play our part in the national ‘Love Parks Week’ campaign led by Keep Britain Tidy.

“In what has been extremely testing times due to coronavirus since March 2020, our parks have provided somewhere that residents of all ages can enjoy. Whether it is for socialising, exercising or to have a moment for peace and quiet, our parks offer something for everyone. We are therefore very excited by the launch of our new Love Exploring app which will increase the visitor experience even further at a number of city green spaces.

“One of the key messages of the Love Parks Week campaign, is that people respect their local green space if visiting and do everything they can to keep them clean and tidy. On a final note, we could not ensure that our parks continue to be of such a high standard without the immense contribution of volunteers, friends of and community groups. I would again like to thank them for their efforts and tremendous work.”

Notes to editors:

Love Parks Week 2021 is held from 21 July – 1 August.

Love Parks Week began in 2006 with a simple aim: to encourage people to visit, enjoy and take pride in their local parks and green spaces, driving the message that our parks and green spaces are essential to healthy, happy and strong communities.

For more information on Love Parks Week please see: Love Parks Week | Keep Britain Tidy