Better Spaces Release

 **PRESS RELEASE** May 2008

Better Spaces

From public parks and back gardens to wetlands and woodlands, London’s diverse environment has something for everyone. Love London’s Better Spaces celebrates this diversity and encourage Londoners to make the most of the spaces we have and help to make them the best they can be.  

This year Londoners are being urged to literally “green up” their city.  Calls to action come from BBC Breathing Places scheme and also the guerilla gardeners at Vacant Lot.  Both schemes encourage Londoners to plant up the city’s open and empty spaces making them attractive, productive and wildlife friendly.

Other events include woodland walks, wildlife tours, pond dipping, open gardens and an Amazing photography project zooming in on the Capital’s tiniest green spaces. 

Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is very focused on the issues and, amongst other award-winning sustainability measures, have been greening up their roofs.  Sophie Townsend, Sustainability Manager at ZSL, said: “At ZSL London Zoo the future is green, and we aim to inspire our visitors to go green too. How each individual chooses to behave has the greatest effect on our planet and its future and we are delighted to be launching the Love London festival from the Zoo. Many different species – from water-wise camels to waste-watching dung beetles – can give us inspiration about living sustainably and here at ZSL we have the great fortune of being able to take tips straight from these experts!”

The Environment Agency’s World Environment Day Regional Co-ordinator, Lydia Wyeth said: "We want to get people thinking about how we can prepare for and cope with the effects of climate change. We hear daily how our climate is threatened and becoming more extreme – but there are steps we can all take to make us more resilient and able to cope. Our work with Love London helps us to reach a wider audience and promote the message of 'Stand Up To Climate Change' - our campaign for World Environment Day."

London 21 Chairman Chris Church added: ”Public spaces make any place is nice to live in. Green spaces are for people to walk in and to sit in, for children to play in, for sport, for community celebrations and much more. There’s lots of Love London events in our green spaces this summer so get out there and love your local park!”

Some Better Spaces highlights

© BBC Breathing Places

As part of their Breathing Places programme the BBC's Springwatch SWAT team will spend the weekend at one of Southwark's much loved pocket parks. The team will transform an overgrown wildlife area into an attractive haven in which to discover nature; by clearing paths, creating a seating area and installing an interpretation board. 07/06/2008 - 08/06/2008 Surrey Square Park, Walworth, SE5  Jon Best, 020 7525 0876 

© Vacant LotVacant and neglected spaces are transformed into food production spaces. During the weekends 1st, 7th-8th, 14th-15th, 21st June the VACANT LOT garden is open to public.Vacant Lot, Chart Street, N1Ulrike Steven,  ulrike@what-if.info 

© Open Garden Squares WeekendThis is one weekend in the year that you can visit gardens in London not usually open to the public.07/06/2008 - 08/06/2008   £6Open Garden SquaresVal Burton,  valweef@googlemail.comwww.opensquares.org 

© Amazingness: Photography Exhibition

Photography exhibition by photographer and environmentalist Anna Hillman exploring the nature found in cities.31/05/2008 - 06/07/2008Viewfinder Gallery, Greenwich, SE10 8RSLouise Forrester, 020 8858 8351,  gallery@viewfinder.org.ukwww.viewfinder.org.uk 

© Last of our Meadows

See birds, flowers and butterflies on a heritage reserved site.08/06/2008    10:30Totteridge Fields Nature Reserve, Hendon Wood Lane, NW7Clive Cohen, 07973 825165,  notinbooks.conservation@btinternet.com 

© Woodland Conservation Day

Hanwell Springs is a small private wooded reserve where Ealing Group ofLondon Wildlife Trust help with the maintenance.08/06/2008   10:00-12:30204 Church Road, Hanwell, W7 3BP020 8578 4258