Due to injuries and (Ironically) New Dogs, we haven’t been walking around London as much as we used to, but we had an idea the other day, to share our opinions on some of the 3,000 Green Spaces in London. Many you wouldn’t even consider parks, but we visit a lot of these and thought we should tell you about some.
So, from this point on we endeavour to add posts about these spaces, sometimes a group of them, sometime a big one in one post to itself. So, what do we constitute a good park?
We have been going to the usual/same Parks, walking the dogs, but we get bored so whenever possible we try to visit somewhere new. Also what with the Capital Ring walks and the Heart Of London we have visited a a fair amount of these spaces over the years.
First off we need to identify the type of park and for that we will go by size.
Class 1 – are 250 Acres and above.
Epping Forest 4,270 acres
Richmond Park 2,360 acres
Bushy Park 1,100 acres
Hampstead Heath 791 acres
Regent’s Park 410 acres
Hyde Park 350 acres
Kensington Gardens 260 acres
Class 2 – 250-100 Acres;
Beckenham Place Park 237 acres
Victoria Park 213 acres
Battersea Park 205 acres
Crystal Palace Park 200 acres
Alexandra Park 198 acres
Greenwich Park 180 acres
Brockwell Park 126 acres
Class 3 – 100 Acres and under, (excluding Squares and Gardens**)
St James’s Park 57 acres
Clissold Park 55 acres
Green Park 40 acres
**Squares and Gardens.
There are numerous small squares and gardens in all boroughs of London, too many to mention but we will post when we do an area we will try and include as many as we know or have been to.
Other Parks to remember and/or investigate
Thames Chase
Bruce Castle
Lordship Recreation Ground
Tottenham Marshes
Tottenham Cemetery
Downhills Park
Chestnuts Park
Down Lane Park,
Markfield Park
The Green (Tottenham)
Brunswick Road Open Space
Chapman’s Green
Grosvenor Square
Wildspace Conservation Park ,593
Wimbledon Common 136
Walthamstow Wetlands 520
Mitcham Common 450
Trent Park 418
Hainault Forest Country Park 336
Clapham Common 220
Wormwood Scrubs 200
Wandsworth Common 180
Gunnersbury Park 178
Tooting Bec Common 152
South Norwood Country Park 116
So, that’s the list of potential parks to post about. Then there are the criteria we are setting for what makes a good park and add a total score ranking to them.
Animal Friendly – We want to be able to walk the dogs in them!
Wildlife Areas – From Petting Zoo to Aviaries or Deer Enclosures
Ponds/Water Features – Lakes and Ponds for water fowl and wildlife preferably and visually appealing.
Formal Gardens – Rose Gardens and Italian Formal style areas.
Specimen Trees/Plants – Different and unusual trees rather than just tons of Plane Trees.
Covered Seating Areas/Pavilions – Pagodas and little covered nooks, anywhere to hide from the British weather or take a break.
Paths – Yep, even Paths and walkways can be good or bad, sometimes a dirt track can be more fun than a concrete strip of land and we always love a random Desire Line!
Seating and Picnic Areas – It’s amazing that some parks have no seats or even places to sit and have a picnic, some of these ban sunbathing and sitting on the grass!
Playgrounds – Not that we will be using them, but a good playground is an essential for any park and different playgrounds are always better than a set of swings and Monkey Frame.
Kids Areas – Again not for us, but a good park would have clubhouses, or designated play areas or learning centres/activity areas.
Sports Courts/Pitches – Everything from Football Pitches and Tennis Courts to Skate-Parks and Beach Volleyball Courts.
Forest/Tree Walkways – Anyway covered in more trees with paths through them make for interesting and potentially wildlife filled sections.
Coffee Shops/Restaurant – The most important thing in any park! Serious a nice Café to get a decent Coffee is a big part of Climbing-Moss (Reviews of the Coffee Shop itself will be posted separately, but links added).
Toilets – An essential in all parks and free of charge, spending a penny is now spending £2 and that’s ridiculous!
Manor Houses/Buildings – Many parks were former Stately Homes or have period houses in-situ and often the Park Keepers houses are interesting and worth mentioning too.
Open Peace and Quiet – This is any park that is big enough or just quiet enough, that passing traffic is muted, either.
Bins – A silly one but until you can’t find one and are walking around trying find throw away stinking bags, then you realise, how essential this is.
Rules and Signs – For good or bad these will be judged as we see appropriate, from Opening and Closing Times and Dog Designated areas to the stupid, No Dancing, No Music, No Fun rules, like any good Japanese Park!
Quirks – Random and weird things from Ruins or Foleys, to Forts and Dinosaurs.
Right, that’s enough! So, we will start next time with one area of London and then periodically share as and when we have another big park or area. But if you have a favourite or know of a specific park we should mention then please do so in the comments below.
Climbing Moss 