PARK Life

The contemporary park has changed markedly in both the ways in which it is used and its aesthetics, but all of this stems from the Victorians who invented the concept of public parks. As the importance of ‘down-time’ and spaces in which city-dwellers could relax, unwind and exercise became increasingly common during this era, top landscape designers were commissioned to lay out these new parks in London. These promoters of public parks recognised them as a means to boost each London district both economically and in terms of the citizen’s well being, thus shaping the city landscape into one which incorporates both the green and the concrete. It also provided an important development in the merging of social classes in a previously segregated society, as many of the parks we know and enjoy today in London were gifts from wealthy philanthropists to local communities.

Today, there is a real need to continue to maintain our parks, which run the risk of being overlooked and neglected, and some of their most charming features from the Victorian period in which they were conceived, such as bandstands, fountains and lakes, should be preserved as an homage to their origins. However, not all parks in London have Victorian roots as, indeed, green landscaping and development is still rife in the city. One example is the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, which has only recently been re-opened following the success of the 2012 Games. Another instance is that of the much-awaited plans for the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and the surrounding area. Nicknamed ‘Battersea Flower Station’, the housing which is set to be built on this incredible riverside location is to feature many green spaces and flora designs, challenging the threat of London’s parks being overtaken by grim, grey buildings as the city’s population continues to swell. These new parks combine green landscapes with modern architecture, in a promising visualisation of how our city will develop.

“Pimms, lemonade and plenty of fruit has remained an absolute must-have for any picnic

Activities and interactions in our green spaces is an element of park life which has dramatically changed over the years. Picnics in the Victorian era were elaborate affairs consisting of home-cooked food which should include (according to the most famous Victorian home-maker and cookery writer, Mrs Beeton) lamb, chicken, veal, pigeon pie and ham, alongside cheese, bread, fruit and pudding. Nowadays our picnic menu is rather less focused on bringing scores of roast meat, and relies much more on shop-bought salads, sandwiches and finger food. However, one Victorian tradition has stuck steadfastly in the British picnic: Pimms. While there is now much more emphasis on a boozy picnic lunch than our Victorian predecessors, with bottles of wine, beer and cider being an essential part of any day-trip to a green space, the very British tradition of Pimms, lemonade and plenty of fruit has remained an absolute must-have for any picnic during British summertime.

How we now use our famous parks is another major change from when they were first envisaged. No longer the ground for mothers and babies, or groups of friends on weekends, green spaces in London are occupied on a daily basis by working professionals on their lunch break when the sun decides to shine. Al-fresco dining is such an important part of working life in London, and a welcome relief from stuffy office air, that it often seems impossible to grab a square of grass in these parks on a sunny day at 1pm. And while the Victorian traditions of kite-flying and toy boat sailing are still popular, nowadays one is more likely to see a group of people taking part in a ‘bootcamp’ exercise class on Clapham common, a yoga class in Hyde Park, or a tanning session for the pale masses when the sun comes out.

The great British festival is also changing thanks to our parks. No longer confined to large farms and fields in the countryside, and now substantially bigger than the local summer fete, new London food, music and creative arts festivals are multiplying every year, and they provide a great way to spend a weekend or bank holiday without the dreaded muddy camping. Clapham common hosts the South West Four Weekender over the August bank holiday, in which the park will turn into a dance music haven, a world away from its usual use by yummy-mummies and young professionals. Clapham common also has a Foodie Festival in June, while the new On Blackheath festival combines the two, with celebrity chef Gizzi Erskine hosting a food area alongside headline acts Massive Attack and Gilles Peterson. If you fancy a more healthy or charitable objective to park life, the city holds many great fun runs for charity, such as the Sumo Run in Battersea Park in July.

London’s parks do truly have something for everyone. Whether you want to partake in the vast green space of one of the Royal Parks or hide away in Streatham’s secret landscape garden, The Rookery; whether you’re a music geek or a foodie; an individual who prefers a homemade sandwich in the sun, or a couple who would rather a romantic champagne picnic.

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