Love Parks Week

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As we head into summer, Love Parks Week provides a moment to reflect on how vital our green spaces are.

The annual campaign by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy aims to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy their favourite park, as well as being mindful of protecting it for current and future generations.

Little girl plays rounders in Manchester’s Heaton Park (Keep Britain Tidy)

Spending time in a park is a great way to embrace nature and improve your mental well-being, and spend time with your child or even your pet!

Since the start of the pandemic, it is estimated that the dog population in the UK has grown from nine million to some 13 million, according to Statista.com. And, as more and more people sought companionship from a furry friend, the puppy boom was accompanied by a less appealing consequence – dog fouling.

Park professionals have told the charity the amount of dog mess being left by owners in our parks has increased since the start of 2021. More than half of local authorities we surveyed reported an increase in both unbagged dog poo left on the ground and bagged dog poo ‘carefully’ placed in parks, for example, left hanging from railings or trees.

Goscote Greenacres (Walsall) volunteer Jacob, supported by Lee Copplestone from Keep Britain Tidy’s WatersideCare programme standing in high-vis jackets holder litter pickers — Goscote Greenacres (Walsall) volunteer Jacob, supported by Lee Copplestone from Keep Britain Tidy’s WatersideCare programme (Keep Britain Tidy)

Using the hashtags #LoveParks #bagitbinit and #anybinwilldo the charity will spread the message to dog owners.

Dog walkers can be fined for not picking up after their pets or not carrying a dog poo bag or other means to pick up.

This year’s campaign is sponsored by Regatta, and to celebrate #LoveParksWeek, the charity has teamed up with them to offer four lucky winners £250 worth of Regatta vouchers each, to help you enjoy your favourite park pasttime. To enter, all you need to do is hop onto Keep Britain Tidy’s social media channels and tell us who YOU think likes the park more - kids or dogs, follow Keep Britain Tidy and Regatta, and like our post.

For more information about Love Parks Week, which takes place from July 29 to August 5, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/love-parks-week or search for #LoveParks on social media.