Proposals are under way to transform London into a National Park City. This project is really exciting as is set to improve housing, green spaces and education, making London’s quality of life the best in the world.
There is no precedent for making a National Park City – London would be the first. For this vision to become reality, the campaign is asking for the support of as many people as possible living across all of London’s Boroughs, by signing a declaration on the website that features the proposal: www.NationalParkCity.London.
The Greater London National Park City Initiative is a grassroots campaign to transform London into the world’s first National Park City. Started in April 2014, the initiative is supported by thousands of individuals and over 100 organisations, ranging from small community groups to large multinational companies who have come together in order to make London a greener, healthier, fairer, livable and even more prosperous city.
The movement has already received significant support from all the major political parties, four London Councils, more than 100 organisations, and the London Assembly recently passed a motion of unanimous support.
The proposal has also been published in an eye-catching, free newspaper format containing previously unseen aerial photographs of London, a new map of walking trails, and new research revealing why and how much Londoners care about their city. It will spark discussion and ideas in classrooms, homes and offices across the Capital.
The proposal, produced thanks to a crowd-funding campaign backed by 347 individuals, has been described by renowned London architect Sir Terry Farrell as ‘one vision to inspire a million projects’. A recent poll of over 1,000 Londoners showed an overwhelming amount of goodwill for this initiative: 85% believe it’s a good idea and 84% think the Mayor and London Council should support it. Londoners agree that making the city a National Park City would make it a better place to live and visit (85%), benefit children (85%), help to protect and promote parks (88%), and improve Londoners’ health (83%).
The main aims of the movement include: easy access to high-quality green space, connecting all children to nature, improving air and water quality, inspiring the creation of affordable green homes and promoting London as a Green World City.
Research conducted by the leading design, engineering and environmental company, Aecom, estimates London’s 8.3 million trees generate £195 million of air filtration services. An estimated £1.9 billion of climate regulation services are produced by London’s green spaces. Tottenham Cemetery’s vegetation alone is estimated to produce £140,500 of carbon capturing ability, and with air pollution costing the UK economy £20 billion annually, there is an obvious requirement for more carbon reduction. The quality of the capital’s built and natural environment and role in improving children’s education, regulating micro climates and attracting the best businesses, is what makes it such an important issue to tackle.
The Greater London National Park City would share similar purposes to the UK’s current 15 National Parks but would not have any formal planning powers. Instead, its focus would be to help Londoners to learn how to benefit more from Londoners natural heritage and how, in return, London’s environment can benefit from them. The organisation that would be created to look after the National Park City would be funded through private giving and commercial services. The proposal does not ask for any public sector funding from either local or central government.
To add your support and make London a National Park City please visit www.NationalParkCity.London
For a quick view version of the proposal (not for publication) please click here.
Images by Luke Massey
