Council rolls out programme of summer activity for ‘friendly parks’
A programme of summer walks, trails and craft activities have been scheduled for the borough’s new ‘Friendly Parks’.
As part of the ‘Friendly Parks for All’ project, the Council is working with the Richmond Dementia Action Alliance to look at how the Council can encourage everyone, including people with dementia, to enjoy local parks.
So far, work has been carried out to transform Barnes Green into a dementia friendly space and Heathfield Recreation Ground is also seeing improvements. This includes new benches, walkways, way markers and art installations.
To celebrate the project, a host of activities will be held over the next few months. In June, July and August, these will include:
15th June: A walk on the wild side
Come for a gentle stroll with us and learn about the wildlife that calls Barnes Green home. There are butterflies and bees in the wild flower meadow and all sorts of insects in the hedges and trees as well as wildlife that lives on and in the pond. How many do you recognise?
6th July: Sensory trail and memory postcards
Come for a stroll and follow the sensory trail to see what you can see, smell, hear and touch on Heathfield Recreation Ground. We will make postcards using some of the things that we find on our stroll to remind you of the walk.
20th July: Sensory trail and memory postcards
Come for a stroll and follow the sensory trail to see what you can see, smell, hear and touch on Barnes Green. We will make postcards using some of the things that we find on our stroll to remind you of the walk.
17th August and 3rd August: Playing in Parks – share your memories of playing in parks as a child.
Did you play in parks as a child? What did you like to do – play on the slides and roundabouts or have an adventure? Come and share your memories with us as we go for a gentle stroll in Barnes Green (17th August) and in Heathfield Recreation Ground (3rd August).
Ishbel Murray, Assistant Director for Contracts and Leisure, said:
“Our aim is to make all our parks accessible to everyone. And, through our improvements at Barnes and Heathfield Recreation Ground, we are able to hold activities that are open to all – but also welcoming to those with dementia.
“I hope that over the summer many people will enjoy our events and see the real differences our installations and adaptions have made.”
