CELEBRATING PARKS: Parks in your pocket
Part of the joy of getting outdoors is the ability to escape technology and reconnect with nature and the world around us. If you're heading down to the local park though, there is a veritable smorgasbord of apps in your pocket just waiting to help you discover the green space around you.
This week as we celebrate parks we're getting appy with some options to download to your device to enhance your park experience.
All of the apps profiled below are free to download, although some do have in-app purchases.
OS Maps
Published by: Ordnance Survey
Before taking a trip to the park you need to discover where it is and how to get there, right? Ordnance Survey's free app includes their Greenspace layer to help you find parks and other green spaces nearby as well as plot and follow routes. For a monthly subscription of £2.99 you can also access OS's Landranger and Explorer products, download maps to access them when you don't have any signal and even play with augmented reality to learn more about what is around you.
Available for: iPhone and Android
GoJauntly
Published by: Go Jauntly Ltd
Go Jauntly is a free walking app which allows you to discover and explore interesting walking routes near you. Once you've found a walk nearby you'll be guided en route by pictures and narrative about what is around you. As well as walks created by their team, anyone can contribute their own route using the easy functionality within the app itself. Their collections allow you to discover new and exciting walks with even more content available for a subscription of £1.99 a month.
Available for: iPhone and Android
TiCL
Published by: TiCL Media Limited
The TiCL app is all about discovering the world around you, whether it is through trails, information at points of interest or geocaching games. Anyone can create a 'TiCL' and share it making the app perfect for a small community event or a large park all year round.
Available for: iPhone and Android
Our Parks
Published by: Our Parks LTD
Our Parks provide free, group exercise classes in local parks and green spaces. Classes are led by experienced, fully qualified and insured instructors and are held regularly in an increasing number of locations across the country, including a number of spaces protected as part of our Active Spaces programme. The app allows you to find classes based on location, type and fitness level and make bookings.
Available for: iPhone and Android
parkrun
Published by: parkrun
Held on Saturday mornings in parks and green spaces across the UK, and the world, parkruns are free, weekly, timed 5km runs which anyone is welcome to take part in. If you're a registered runner then the app allows you to manager your profile, see your run history, connect with fellow runners and find parkruns near you.
Available for: iPhone
Bristol Parkhive
Published by: Calvium Ltd
If you're located in or around Bristol then this app is a must. Created as part of the Bristol Green Capital Project and updated by the Bristol Parks Forum, the app profiles 202 parks and green spaces in the city and allows you to search by name, location or features. Each park includes a description, pictures, how far away it is, directions and a link to the Friends of group if there is one.
Available for: iPhone and Android
British Tree Identification
Published by: Woodland Trust
If you're exploring the nature in your local park then chances are that sooner or later you're going to come across something that you'd like to know what it is. Step in the Woodland Trust's tree identification app which allows you either to work out what a tree is based on its features or explore all British tree varieties. Once you've found your tree you can find out more about it and view pictures of its features.
There are also a wide range of plant identification apps available from the app store which allow you to find the names of plants by taking pictures of them, although the majority of these apps are paid or require in-app purchases.
Available for: iPhone and Android
Met Office Weather Forecast
Published by: Met Office
Before you even set off for the park you're going to want to know whether to pack a brolly or if you'll need the sun cream. The Met Office have their own weather forecast app, including hourly up to seven-day forecasts as well as rain radar maps, although there are plenty other popular options out there as well!
Available for: iPhone and Android
And finally...
Last but by no means least, not forgetting of course your phone's camera app. There's bound to be something worth snapping down at your local park whether it's the landscape or a bumble bee on a flower. Why not upload your favourite park photo to social media and tag them with #LoveYourLocalPark, or include it in a nomination for UK's Best Park!
Summer of Parks: Join the discussion as we champion our parks and green spaces
Green Space Index: Our new barometer of publicly accessible green space provision
UK's Best Park: Celebrate your favourite local green space - nominations open soon
