Get a whole year of cutting-edge eco-building news for just £24.00 pa.
Built upon 30 years of experience, this fabulous new medium will feature inspiring and in-depth articles on eco-building projects from across the spectrum and from all over the UK, most of which are written by the very people that designed or built them. Perfect for architects, builders, developers, self builders and anyone interested in keeping right up-to-date with green building trends and friends.
For subscription options:
please go here
|
|
|
Could London be the next UK National Park? |
|
 
|
|
|
|
27 Feb 2015, 8:43 PM
|
A proposed change in the criteria for National Parks could see London granted the status more commonly associated with areas like the Peak District and New Forest.
|
Support is growing for a way to create a new classification of park that would transform the capital into the world's first National Park City. Campaigners are arguing that London already meets much of the criteria of an existing park - citing that almost 50 per cent of London is green space and it is home to some 13,000 species of wildlife.
So far the idea has garnered support from TV presenter Chris Packham, MP Zac Goldsmith and actor and comedian Griff Rhys Jones. Those backing the idea claim a Greater London National Park would attract more tourists to visit outer London, help more children to learn outdoors and work to reduce the likelihood of flooding.
This week experts, business leaders and environmental organisations met at the Southbank Centre to promote the case for the capital becoming a new National Park City. The Reimagine London: What if we made London a National Park? event saw speakers and exhibitors champion the move, which they said would increase the health and wellbeing of inhabitants, boost businesses and bolster prosperity in the capital in general.
There were a range of lectures, talks, panel discussions and exhibitions including presentations by Sir Terry Farrell, the London Wildlife Trust and University of London. Daniel Raven-Ellison, founder of the Greater London National Park campaign, said: "London is one of the greenest cities in the world for its size. It is home to the world's largest urban forest and its 3.8m gardens cover 24 per cent of the capital, while roads cover just 12 per cent.
"The statutory purpose of national park status is to ‘conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area' and ‘promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the park by the public.' There is no reason we can't apply these ideas to the urban environment. London's landscape is very different the countryside, but it is equally as distinctive and inspiring. We are not calling for any new planning powers.
"A National Park City would be about people power. The event saw those principles come together - demonstrating how rich London is not just as a collection of buildings but for its great outdoors."
Alison Barnes, CEO of the New Forest National Park, said for the idea to move forward, people need to reconsider their idea of what a national park is. She said: "The sticking point is people thinking a National Park is exactly the same as a National Park City - they are different concepts. We like to sum up the purpose of a National Park as to protect, enjoy and prosper, and that is something that can be brought into the urban environment. In some ways the benefits are even enhanced in cities because of the sheer number of people - you have the chance to inspire millions of people to engage with the natural environment. Having London as a hub could introduce a whole new range of people to the wider natural world as well as the issues it is facing.
"National Parks are often talked about as being world class. The idea is to use that concept to make world class cities."
The Greater London National Park City in numbers
1,572 km² in area
300 languages spoken
8.3 million people
13,000 species of wildlife
13 species of reptile and amphibian within the M25
850km of streams, rivers and canals
1,000km+ of signed footpaths
3.8 million gardens
2 Special Protection Areas
3 Special Areas of Conservation
4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
2 National Nature Reserves
36 Sites of Special Scientific Interest
850km + of rivers, canals and streams
1,000km+ of signed footpaths
142 Local Nature Reserves
1300 sites are recognised by the GLA as being of value to wildlife
300 farms
30,000 allotments
3000 parks
Shanice Antoine, a student of Langdon Park Secondary School said "I've lived in Tower Hamlets all my life and it is getting more cramped by the minute. The spaces we have are not looked after or respected. In the eyes of the younger generation London's natural environment is scarce. A National Park would make the city healthier for families, encourage outdoor activities and teach people about sustainability,"
|
|
|
|
