NatureELL: green space in the city

Val at the Coco Collective Ital Community Garden in Lewisham Pic: Coco Collective

Now spring has sprung, there is no better time to make the most of your local green spaces. Spending time in green space is vital for your mental and physical wellbeing. Yet in the ELL boroughs, and throughout London, these spaces are under threat. Although nearly half of all land in London is classified as green space, only 20 percent is publicly accessible. Much of this greenery is overgrown, leading it to come under threat of development. From Gorne Wood in Lewisham to the Canal Club Community Garden in Tower Hamlets, these spaces are repeatedly put in danger, with only the local community fighting back.

But while green spaces shrink, the local population is increasing year on year, with Tower Hamlets, Lewisham and Croydon seeing a growth rate higher than the London average, and in the case of Tower Hamlets, the highest in the country. Yet three of these four boroughs also have a lower than average percentage of green space, which will only become less and less adequate for residents.

Over the next four days, we speak to the people who are making the most of their local parks and community gardens to find out why they are worth fighting for and how to protect them. Follow our series on #NatureELL and start enjoying your local park today.

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