We are now at the half-way stage in voting for your UK's Favourite Parks, with three weeks of voting complete and three weeks remaining. You continue to show amazing love for local parks across the country, with over 15,000 votes now cast.
Having featured your 'fastest starters' and the parks you were making a song about in weeks one and two, once again this week we turn the spotlight on ten parks who've been on the move over the last seven days.
With the summer holidays now in full swing, many of us will be heading off on staycations around the UK over the coming days and weeks. The holidays are a great opportunity to discover new parks not just close to home but further afield. Why not search the list of nominations for UK's Favourite Parks to see if someone near your destination has nominated a park they think is special and worth checking out? You may even fall in love with it and decide to lend it your vote for UK's Favourite Park!
Over 15,000 votes have already been cast in total for UK's Favourite Parks 2022 and these are the ten parks who've been making a move during the most recent seven days of voting. In recognition, they will have a special badge displayed next to their nomination for the next seven days. They are showcased below in alphabetical order, along with why they are so special according to their nominators:
Abington Park
Northampton, Northamptonshire
"An outstanding cultural gem that has kept calm while everything around it changed! Provided generations of families in Northampton with priceless memories and fun. Beautiful and welcoming to all."
Burrs Country Park
Bury, Greater Manchester
"It's a haven for wildlife with the river Irwell running through it. There is kayaking facilities and a café plus lots of space for walking and picnicking. A lovely space for dog walking and bird watching."
Horsham Park
Horsham, West Sussex
"I am usually in the park at least every week, whether this be for a walk or a run. It's a beautiful green space which attracts a number of people of all different ages and backgrounds. I would love for this space to be protected via Fields in Trust for future generations."
Nork Park
Banstead, Surrey
"Nork Park is a lovely park, with something for everyone: a children’s playground, outdoor gym, football pitches and plenty of space to walk your dog or run. There are also great views across London. It’s beautiful all year round but especially in the autumn."
Penrhos Coastal Park
Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey
"It's ancient woodland which is so full of diversity also a red squirrel stronghold, the beauty of the place is something to see. Its breath-taking scenery, tranquil setting and all the flora and fauna that makes this place so magical. Visit and fall in love with the place."
Pontypool Park
Pontypool, Gwent
"We love our local park, great for walks anytime of the year, grateful to have this on our doorstep."
Roundhay Park
Leeds, West Yorkshire
"Such a varied green space with big grassed areas and lovely woodland and lakes. Fabulous trees - some of them must be ancient trees, others are just unusual."
Seaton Park
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
"This park has something for everybody, extensive paths through grassy and wooded areas and by the river - wonderful for dog-walking. Children's play area a walled-garden with azaleas, magnolias and camellias. Beautiful formal and informal planting. Otters can sometimes be seen."
Stanley Park
Blackpool, Lancashire
"It's Italian gardens, lakes, Art-Deco restaurant, nice walks, decent parking and sports facilities."
Wilton Lodge Park
Hawick, Scottish Borders
"Wilton Lodge Park is everything a park should be. It sprawls along a riverside, is steeped in history and has beauty in abundance. A waterfall, bandstand, play-park, fountain, museum and a bustling friendly café. You would remember a visit to our park forever."
These ten parks are those to have received the most votes in the last seven days - they don't necessarily represent the top ten in the public vote overall and there are many more green spaces not far behind them! With three weeks to go there is still plenty of time to help a park you love be named a Local Favourite, National Favourite, or even as the UK's Favourite Park 2022.
If you haven't cast your vote yet then it only takes a few moments to do so - simply search the list of nominations for parks near you, chose your favourite and submit your vote. Don't forget to click the link in the email you receive to verify your vote else it won't count towards your park's total!
By demonstrating our love for our local parks, we can champion what they mean to communities and in turn help make the case for their long-term protection. Without legal protection our local parks can so easily be lost. And once lost, a green space is lost forever. As well as voting for your favourite local park, you can play your part in this protection of treasured local parks by making a donation to support Fields in Trust's work.
Fields in Trust is the only national charity working across the UK to legally protect parks and green spaces for good. We already protect nearly 3,000 parks across the UK, but up to 94% of green spaces could remain endangered. With your help we can change that, for good.