PARKINSON’S Park in Guiseley has been nominated for Fields in Trust UK’s Favourite Parks 2022.

This is a nationwide public vote to find the parks and green spaces that have made a valuable contribution to their local community whilst acting as a sanctuary over the past few years.

Parkinson's Park is one of 364 parks and green spaces to have been nominated, and the vote will decide local and national favourites. From the favourites one will get the top accolade of being the UK’s Favourite Park 2022.

Residents can vote online by Thursday, August 18, 2022 at https://www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks/nominations/parkinsons-park

Fields in Trust chief executive Helen Griffiths said: "Our nation’s parks have been so important during the pandemic, and it is vital that we celebrate them to help ensure they are protected for future generations. Without urgent action, Britain’s public green space is set to decrease, putting more pressure on fewer green spaces to support the health and wellbeing of communities, now and in the future. Our children and grandchildren deserve to have the same access to green space that we do, so we need to act before it’s too late.

"It is within the powers of our local leaders to protect our green spaces and after the pandemic this is a significant moment to change the way we think about the contribution local green spaces make to our health, our wellbeing, our environment, and ultimately our futures."

Jennifer Kirkby, a director of Friends of Parkinson's Park (FOPP) said: "This is a great honour for us, as the purpose of Fields in Trust in arranging for the vote is to attract attention to the importance of Green Spaces and Parks to wellbeing – both physical and mental. This has been so important over the last few years and remains so. Therefore, we are pleased to be able to support the organization in its efforts to stress how crucial these spaces are to both people and wildlife. Parkinson’s Park is also of particular interest as it is not run by a Council, but is still owned by Bellway Homes as part of their Edison Fields development – it is managed to a basic level by Meadfleet, along with the green spaces on the estate, and the general management and improvement is done by Friends of Parkinson’s Park (FOPP). Meadfleet pay for the grass cutting, hedge trimming and ensure the trees are safe from the fee they charge residents – everything else is done through FOPP and the funds we raise."