KEEPING KIDS CONNECTED

With playgrounds closed and school at home, green space charity Fields in Trust have put together a parks activity pack to help bring parks indoors this spring.

The pack includes ideas for creative projects, a quiz, colouring, and a “design your dream park” art challenge.

The children’s resources form part of the Bringing Parks to You campaign attempting to deliver wellbeing through a virtual tour of the UK, discovering parks and green spaces which are much loved and valued by their communities along the way.

At a time when communities across the country are revaluing the benefits their local parks usually provide for sport, nature and play, Fields in Trust are exploring UK locations online by showcasing town and city parks which you can “visit” from your home. The charity says it’s an opportunity to experience, not just the local green spaces on your doorstep, but to discover new parks across the nations and regions of the UK.

Fields in Trust chief executive, Helen Griffiths, said, “The last few weeks have reminded everyone that the UK’s parks and green spaces are highly valued parts of our local neighbourhoods and shown us just how sorely they’re missed when they are not easily accessible. During these changed and challenging times, we must adapt how we use and enjoy them, in line with government guidance.

"We are all experiencing what life would be like without access to these much-loved local spaces. Thankfully right now the loss is temporary, but it serves as a reminder that many of these spaces are lost forever. We hope that bringing the park to you this spring will provide a little virtual wellbeing because green spaces are good, they do good and they need to be protected for good."