Parks and open spaces in London

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From English Wikipedia @ Freddythechick
The lake in Beddington Park in the London Borough of Sutton in southwest London

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

St James's Park Lake in Westminster, looking east from the Blue Bridge towards the London Eye.
Main article: Royal Parks of London

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

Main article: List of garden squares in London
View of the centre of Gordon Square.

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

The bathing pond at Victoria Park. Unused for bathing since the 1930s.

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

  • Tottenham Parks

Other green spaces

Highgate model boating pond near Parliament Hill

Other major open spaces in the suburbs include:

name hectares acres
Thames Chase 9,842 24,320[16]
Epping Forest 2,476 6,118[17]
Wildspace Conservation Park 645 1,593[18]
Wimbledon Common 460 1,136[19]
Hampstead Heath 320 790[20]
Walthamstow Wetlands 211 520[21]
Mitcham Common 182 450[22]
Trent Park 169 418[23]
Hainault Forest Country Park 136 336[24]
Clapham Common 89 220[25]
Wormwood Scrubs 80 200
Wandsworth Common 73 180
Gunnersbury Park 72 178[26]
Tooting Bec Common 62 152
South Norwood Country Park 47 116[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

Lavender field in the London Borough of Sutton

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.

By location

  1. City of London
  2. Westminster
  3. Kensington and Chelsea
  4. Hammersmith and Fulham
  5. Wandsworth
  6. Lambeth
  7. Southwark
  8. Tower Hamlets
  9. Hackney
  10. Islington
  11. Camden
  12. Brent
  13. Ealing
  14. Hounslow
  15. Richmond
  16. Kingston upon Thames
  17. Merton
 326px

poly 253 178 247 167 236 168 233 173 236 176 239 178 247 180 City of London poly 223 199 210 199 205 184 194 189 176 164 186 161 185 155 196 151 202 153 207 151 212 166 219 166 223 173 231 173 234 176 227 182 224 191 City of Westminster poly 206 187 195 191 188 182 179 171 176 166 168 166 172 174 171 174 174 191 191 207 193 202 211 200 Kensington and Chelsea poly 193 210 173 190 170 173 163 164 153 161 153 161 152 189 159 197 165 197 169 216 182 223 192 217 Hammersmith and Fulham poly 221 201 192 205 192 216 180 226 165 214 161 220 149 221 149 231 156 237 150 249 152 254 166 243 177 246 187 244 195 258 203 262 207 259 217 264 218 247 214 242 214 232 209 218 217 212 220 206 Wandsworth poly 214 271 218 261 219 244 214 239 215 229 209 216 221 211 221 199 229 180 235 176 231 192 238 195 233 196 238 215 245 218 235 232 250 260 234 260 224 271 Lambeth poly 270 232 270 221 266 216 266 206 262 201 276 192 275 180 266 180 259 185 248 180 237 180 233 191 238 195 234 197 239 214 247 217 236 233 250 260 256 253 256 248 261 246 261 234 265 232 Southwark poly 299 183 298 173 291 167 290 160 283 157 285 153 284 148 275 148 271 156 258 156 252 158 255 167 248 168 254 178 249 181 258 185 266 179 275 179 277 194 289 201 293 196 292 183 294 181 296 181 Tower Hamlets poly 284 146 282 138 274 128 265 130 258 118 240 119 237 130 250 142 247 156 240 158 248 167 253 165 250 158 258 155 270 154 275 147 Hackney poly 247 140 245 155 237 158 247 166 234 168 230 163 224 152 223 145 216 137 215 122 228 119 235 126 236 131 241 132 Islington poly 224 147 214 137 214 123 192 126 178 140 171 142 185 154 196 149 203 152 207 148 213 165 221 165 224 173 232 173 233 167 230 166 228 160 224 155 Camden poly 149 111 127 104 133 112 120 109 105 119 101 139 131 164 154 159 171 166 184 160 185 157 156 121 151 125 Brent poly 152 161 131 165 101 140 76 142 52 159 73 165 60 195 73 195 84 202 98 192 134 188 142 194 152 194 151 171 Ealing poly 35 250 30 236 41 233 48 231 60 194 72 194 85 204 100 191 137 187 142 196 153 193 156 199 151 212 145 216 138 211 130 200 109 220 115 228 97 230 80 230 70 241 84 245 80 254 70 264 52 254 46 258 Hounslow poly 108 288 95 273 83 271 80 276 78 276 71 262 81 254 86 244 72 240 79 230 115 229 111 220 128 201 140 212 145 217 153 214 155 201 156 196 165 198 168 214 162 213 161 220 148 221 147 230 155 237 149 248 136 259 113 252 119 262 119 283 112 291 Richmond upon Thames poly 109 352 112 318 122 305 114 290 120 283 121 261 115 253 138 258 150 247 151 255 154 255 155 268 155 282 167 293 157 300 149 303 132 319 130 328 125 334 124 345 Kingston poly 173 299 167 294 169 291 158 284 155 253 166 243 181 248 186 245 194 259 206 264 207 261 214 264 214 273 223 272 229 286 213 293 198 289 187 294 179 292 Merton poly 169 343 175 329 164 309 157 310 157 301 166 296 173 300 178 293 186 293 202 288 217 295 223 290 225 300 231 332 219 331 213 352 206 352 199 345 187 333 176 347 Sutton poly 299 339 297 329 285 316 281 296 246 262 235 261 224 274 229 283 223 291 232 330 220 332 214 354 208 354 208 369 218 372 229 383 241 377 252 363 254 353 268 352 269 340 286 336 289 342 Croydon poly 393 288 388 274 380 269 375 273 370 265 357 265 341 251 338 257 329 257 319 242 311 237 305 236 319 249 321 256 312 256 300 267 291 266 279 256 263 259 256 258 250 262 284 297 285 313 299 330 311 383 316 365 323 370 333 380 353 373 348 359 354 351 371 339 366 328 378 326 389 300 386 292 Bromley poly 302 225 301 212 287 213 285 214 284 210 277 200 281 198 274 193 264 201 266 205 267 217 272 222 271 233 263 233 262 239 262 248 257 249 256 257 269 257 280 255 292 265 300 265 312 254 321 254 317 248 309 244 306 236 309 229 Lewisham poly 336 257 330 257 321 241 313 236 308 237 309 227 304 225 300 210 285 212 279 200 282 200 288 202 297 195 298 182 312 187 334 189 352 174 365 172 367 203 358 203 342 217 348 236 Greenwich poly 424 199 417 198 408 198 398 194 394 182 388 176 387 179 370 169 366 173 368 205 359 205 343 218 349 235 341 250 358 264 373 264 375 270 384 267 389 270 383 262 387 249 394 241 400 233 407 228 414 226 421 214 419 208 Bexley poly 431 60 409 67 398 67 392 70 371 69 379 83 379 93 377 109 389 127 401 120 404 134 387 164 387 174 396 182 399 194 411 198 423 196 419 187 435 177 433 170 435 155 443 166 448 153 485 142 475 124 467 103 446 99 454 91 440 88 434 71 428 66 Havering poly 379 93 367 99 370 107 366 118 365 137 346 143 345 140 335 145 335 158 347 162 352 173 365 172 370 168 387 178 387 163 403 133 400 121 387 128 375 108 Barking and Dagenham poly 371 69 379 84 379 91 364 99 369 109 364 119 364 136 349 143 344 139 334 145 334 132 315 128 316 132 306 133 305 116 301 98 303 79 299 72 306 61 320 82 336 87 346 87 347 78 356 78 Redbridge poly 351 173 346 161 334 158 333 135 328 131 317 128 317 133 307 135 307 139 284 139 285 148 286 154 284 156 289 159 292 168 299 176 299 182 313 187 335 188 344 178 Newham poly 306 137 304 115 300 101 303 79 296 75 305 64 307 58 299 54 290 54 283 49 280 55 279 70 272 83 273 91 264 103 260 115 265 128 275 126 283 138 Waltham Forest poly 272 91 262 87 256 91 224 89 215 85 202 94 206 110 198 124 215 122 232 116 237 125 237 119 258 116 263 101 Haringey poly 278 56 277 65 279 69 271 81 272 88 262 85 255 89 223 87 213 84 218 64 203 37 185 31 196 17 195 1 205 9 222 7 231 14 248 14 257 18 284 19 283 48 Enfield poly 120 57 126 55 134 52 144 57 155 23 165 48 176 34 186 33 203 39 217 67 213 86 201 93 204 111 197 124 190 125 178 140 173 140 154 116 151 122 150 109 115 65 Barnet poly 119 58 56 88 76 141 101 138 105 117 121 108 130 111 127 105 137 93 115 67 Harrow poly 2 71 23 83 35 78 56 86 74 141 51 158 71 166 42 233 6 216 9 184 6 152 18 137 0 102 Hillingdon </imagemap>

  1. Sutton
  2. Croydon
  3. Bromley
  4. Lewisham
  5. Greenwich
  6. Bexley
  7. Havering
  8. Barking and Dagenham
  9. Redbridge
  10. Newham
  11. Waltham Forest
  12. Haringey
  13. Enfield
  14. Barnet
  15. Harrow
  16. Hillingdon

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

References

  1. ^ "London 'greenest city' in Europe". edie.net.
  2. ^ "47 per cent of London is green space: time for a national park?". The Independent. September 25, 2014. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25.
  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. ^ "Richmond Park | The Royal Parks". www.royalparks.org.uk. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  5. ^ "Bushy Park | The Royal Parks". www.royalparks.org.uk. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  6. ^ "The Regent's Park & Primrose Hill | The Royal Parks". www.royalparks.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  7. ^ "Hyde Park | The Royal Parks". www.royalparks.org.uk. 2023-09-11. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  8. ^ "Kensington Gardens | The Royal Parks". www.royalparks.org.uk. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  9. ^ "Greenwich Park | The Royal Parks". www.royalparks.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  10. ^ "St. James's Park | The Royal Parks". www.royalparks.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  11. ^ "The Green Park | The Royal Parks". www.royalparks.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  12. ^ "Your garden square and you" Archived 2006-07-11 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, UK. URL accessed 20 June 2006.
  13. ^ "Tower Hamlets Council > Leisure and culture > Parks and open spaces > Parks > Victoria Park > Visitor information". web page. Tower Hamlets Council. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  14. ^ "Wandsworth Battersea Park". web page. Wandsworth Council. 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  15. ^ "Brockwell Park". Lambeth Council. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Forestry Commission News Release No. 1656, 1.6 MILLION MORE TREES PROMISED FOR THE EAST OF LONDON". Forestry Commission. 28 October 1998. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  17. ^ "Epping Forest You & Your Dog" (PDF). brichure. City of London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-04. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
  18. ^ "LTGDC launches vision for London Riverside". Invest Britain UK regional development and inward investment. 19 April 2008. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  19. ^ "Wimbledon & Putney Commons facts and figures". 2007. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  20. ^ David Bentley (12 February 2010). "City of London Hampstead Heath". City of London. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  21. ^ "Walthamstow Wetlands | Visit Walthamstow Wetlands". www.walthamstow-wetlands.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
  22. ^ "Mitcham Common". Mitcham Common Conservators. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  23. ^ "Parks & Gardens UK, Trent Park, Enfield, England". web page. Parks & Gardens Data Services Ltd. 15 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
  24. ^ "Essex/Greater London Site Name: Hainault Forest" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  25. ^ "London's heaths and commons". visitlondon.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  26. ^ "Park | Gunnersbury". www.visitgunnersbury.org.
  27. ^ "South Norwood Country Park - Children's Play Area Design and Access Statement" (PDF). Croydon Council. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  28. ^ Greater London Authority - London's strategic open space network Archived 2008-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "Mayfield Lavender". Archived from the original on 2008-05-30.
  30. ^ "Carshalton Lavender".
  31. ^ "FAQs". London National Park City.

External links

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