How to start a friends of green spaces group

London’s green spaces are invaluable, offering multiple social, financial, health and environmental benefits. But they need looking after. Join our GoParksLondon webinars to find out how you can help

Access to green space is linked to better health and wellbeing. But around 21% of London households have no garden, compared with 12% across the UK. This makes access to parks and community gardens vital. They also contribute to the capital’s economy and help mitigate the impact of climate change.

Help green spaces thrive

So it is hugely important that these spaces continue to thrive. And we can all help. Many have volunteers, often called ‘friends groups’, who spend time looking after the site. Their input can be as simple as organising litter picking from time to time or as big as holding community events.

If you are interested in starting a friends of green spaces group in your local area, GoParksLondon can help. “It’s best to start slow and not take on too much at once – good early activities include daffodil bulb planting and litter picking,” says GoParkLondon’s Laura Collins. “Talk to your neighbours or people you know about building a group, inform your local councillors to help publicise it and then start talking about what you would like to achieve.”

Join us

You can find out more and ask your own questions at the GoParksLondon webinar at midday on 11 March. At the drop-in Q&A event, Laura Collins and Dave Morris, chair of the London Friends of Green Spaces Forum, will help you to get your group going and thriving.

There’s further inspiration available to friends groups or those looking to set one up at our second webinar all about community gardens on 17 March. You’ll hear from volunteers at the Friends of Broomfield Park in Enfield and The UP Garden in Newham, who have set up thriving community spaces.

Sign up to our webinars, here

Find GoParksLondon’s resources for friends groups, here