Alderman Jim McClurg, Mayor of Carrickfergus said “Love Parks Week encourages friends, families, the young and old, to come together and enjoy what our parks and green spaces offer. People must never forget that these spaces provide many opportunities for friendships, education, health, exercise and simple play and fun. Let’s celebrate our green spaces, show you support for Love Parks Week.”
“Love Parks Week is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and enjoy the summer. We’re celebrating all that parks have to offer, so why not visit your local park during the campaign to show what it means to you?
“Love Parks Week is the ultimate green campaign; it commands for our parks and green spaces to be supported and invested in, whilst delivering a whole week of free local outdoor events throughout the Borough, visit our website www.carrickfergus.org/loveparks to find out what’s going on in a park near you.”
“Events range from Tai Chi, Zumba & Boot Camps to Moth and Butterfly Hunts and other wildlife events and walks. We also have ‘Picture the Parks’ a chance to celebrate our parks and green space through photography with local experts from Carrickfergus Camera Club who can show residents how to take that professional standard photograph. We want these events to inspire people to get out and enjoy fresh air and fun outdoors.”
“Sometimes people overlook the many benefits our leafy parks and green spaces provide, from physical and mental health improvements to pure play and entertainment, plus let’s not forget the contribution they make to building communities and their enormous environmental benefit.” Ended Alderman McClurg
Celebrating Love Parks Week’s fifth birthday, organisers GreenSpace aim to double their numbers by gathering one million people into parks and green spaces across the country, showcasing the benefits which are obtainable from free, local resources and encouraging further promotion and reinvestment into such valuable, but often forgotten assets.
Chris Beardshaw, award winning garden designer and TV presenter of ‘Get Up And Grow’ the BBC Northern Ireland gardening series is supporting Love Parks Week and is passionate about our green spaces, he said "I spent most of my youth outdoors and I think exploring a local park is a brilliant way to get children thinking about their surroundings and the community they live in. Britain’s parks are an invaluable legacy from the past - many are more than 100 years old – but they are an important part of our future. There is so much evidence now on the positive impact good green spaces have on our lives, be that our health and well-being, our social fabric, even helping the economy and reducing crime rates and the evidence is continuing to grow. By visiting a public green space and witnessing the passion and enthusiasm of those who create and maintain them, you can enliven the senses and help keep these spaces alive and vital.”
Paul Bramhill, Chief Executive of GreenSpace, said: “We are asking as many people as possible to get into parks to join our campaign for continued investment and support for these valuable assets. Love Parks Week is an annual UK campaign, organised by parks charity GreenSpace. The campaign has been established as a major event that is celebrated in parks across the country. Last year Love Parks Week saw over 800 events registered across the country providing opportunities for nearly half a million people to get together outdoors and make the most of what our parks offer.”
Web Link: www.carrickfergus.org/loveparks
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