Are we making the most of London’s park life?

You might be be surprised to discover that 18% of the London’s total area consists of parks and other green spaces where members of the public are free to roam.

At the same time, there are over 7,000 gyms – and counting – across the UK, with nearly 600 of those in and around the Greater London area – so why aren’t more of their members exercising out in the fresh air (or as fresh as it can be in the capital)?

And it’s not just people who like to run every morning who make most of these green acres; getting out and about in London’s parks are also great for socialising with friends, walking the beloved dog, or for kids to let off steam.

As someone who takes part in a Parkrun every Saturday – which is also a great way of finding out about local parks – I decided to ask the people of London via social media if they too, make the most of London’s greenery…

“I walk two miles a day along the riverside from Teddington to either Richmond or Kingston daily. Not really sporty but it’s beautiful and relaxing – and on doctor’s orders(!)” Larry Green

“I use the marshes in Tottenham Hale quite a lot, which is a really nice place to walk if you have a dog. Other than that, I use the parks in east London.” Ray

“I’m a keen runner and use my local park to train. I’m also a Parkrun fan. I enjoy the fresh air and the scenery, and running outdoors makes me feel more alive than running on the treadmill. It’s a far more pleasurable experience. I’m usually inspired to run longer than in the gym.” Isabelle Kita

“I use London’s green spaces a lot. One of the reasons I decided to move further out – I’m in Zone 3 now – was because of the close proximity to local woodland; Hampstead Heath, Golders Hill Park, and all that. I also have a Kew Gardens membership!

“Nature is really relaxing for me and I just love being around plants and trees, so for me it was worth giving up being in the centre of London for. I like feeling connected to the landscape, it makes me feel more connected to myself.” Freja

“I don’t use much green space but where I live there is a little green walkthrough, and I always walk through there because it’s full of squirrels and it makes me so happy to see them running around and playing with one another. It’s like a sense of peace and calmness – it just gets my day started!” Kyle Andrew

Interestingly, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, wants 50% of London to be green space by 2050. It’s a positive thought, but is it possible in such a densely populated city of around eight million inhabitants? That is certainly food for thought when you are next breaking into a sweat on the running machine…