Mayor launches '˜Love Parks' week

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Audrey Wales MBE, officially launches Love Parks Week 2016. She is pictured with Alison Diver, (in middle) Growing Communities Officer, Mid and East Antrim Borough; Michael Patterson (top of picture) Mid and East Antrim Borough Supervisor at Parks and Open Spaces Section and Rebecca Stevenson, from the Conservation Volunteer.

People across the Borough are being urged to celebrate the national initiative, Love Parks Week, which takes place between Friday, July 15 and Sunday, July 24.

Councillor Audrey Wales MBE, the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, who launched the initiative locally, said: “Love Parks Week encourages friends, families, the young and old, to come together and enjoy what our parks and green spaces offer.

“These spaces provide many opportunities for friendships, education, health, exercise and simple play and fun.

“Let’s celebrate our green spaces, by showing your support for Love Parks Week.

“Love Parks Week is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and enjoy the summer. We’re celebrating all that parks have to offer, so why not visit your local park during the campaign to show what it means to you.”

Events in the Borough range from the lively Gathering Drum Circle, Boot Camps and Aerobics in the Park to more genteel pursuits such as wildlife walks, shoreline scavenges and mini beast hunts.

As Love Parks Week marks its 10th year in 2016, these events aim to inspire people to get out and enjoy the fresh air of the Borough’s green space.

Millions of people are similarly inspired to visit an event at a beautiful park or green space near them each year, across all of the UK.

Love Parks Week is a nationwide initiative run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. The organisation’s Love Parks Manager, Anthea Thomas said: “Love Parks Week is the ultimate celebration of our beautiful parks and green space and it is fantastic that Mid and East Antrim Borough is getting involved this year.

“Green spaces are absolutely vital to every community and make a massive contribution to people’s health. In this time of budget cuts, it is essential that everybody uses and values their local green space, otherwise we could all be in danger of losing them.”