Public parks have been vital features of our cities since the nineteenth century, providing benefits to people, communities and the environment. But what are their prospects and what’s important to you about their future management? Find out about how Leeds parks have changed through time at this free exhibition based on research by the University of Leeds, consider the challenges and opportunities facing parks today and have your say on a 10-year strategy for the future of Leeds parks and green spaces. This event is hosted in partnership with Leeds City Council and the Leeds Parks and Green Spaces Forum as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences.

Programme, Saturday 9th November 2019

Brodrick Hall, Leeds City Museum, 11am – 4.30pm

In the Brodrick Hall we will be hosting various activities, including a free exhibition of Leeds parks, a photographic archive of Leeds parks through time, a pop-up park (for those wanting a taste of summer in November!), activities for children and various stalls hosting information about parks and ways for communities to engage with them. Come along at any time.

History Talk: The Victorian Origins of Leeds Parks, 12.30-1pm, The Denny Room

Where do our public parks come from? In this talk, Dr David Churchill will discuss the birth of the park movement in early Victorian Leeds, and the arguments for founding public parks in a rapidly industrialising city. He will also explain how the role of the Council in preserving and forging new green spaces developed over the course of the nineteenth century, and explore the legacies of this history for the challenges facing public parks today. Places are limited. Please reserve a place here.

The Leeds Parks Fund, 1pm-1.15pm, The Denny Room

The Leeds Parks Fund (http://leedsparksfund.org/) is a charitable initiative which supports community-led enhancements to public parks and green spaces in Leeds. If you are interesting in finding out more, please come along to this information session. The Leeds Parks Fund will also have a stall in Brodrick Hall and you can pop along to talk to the team 11-4.30pm.

Public Consultation on the Leeds Parks and Green Spaces Strategy 2020-2030: Workshops from 11.30am, The Denny Room

There will be opportunities throughout the day for you to have your say on the themes and priorities that will shape the next 10-year strategy for Leeds Parks and Green Spaces in the main Brodrick Hall.

In addition, the Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside service will be running three consultation workshops for members of the public. The aims of the workshops are to identify and prioritise what residents of, and visitors to, Leeds want and need from the city’s public green space in the future with a view to creating a strategy to 2030. They will comprise a short presentation by Parks & Countryside followed by group discussions.

Workshops will be scheduled as follows and will last approximately 45 minutes:

11.30am          Consultation workshop 1 

1.30pm           Consultation workshop 2

3.00pm          Consultation workshop 3

Places are limited. Please click on the link to book a place on one of the workshops.

Refreshments will be provided.

For further information about the event, please contact Dr Anna Barker at a.c.h.barker@leeds.ac.uk or by phone on 0113 343 5023.

Towards A Leeds Parks & Green Spaces Strategy 2020 - 2030, Consultation Document

Leeds Parks & Countryside Service have launched a public consultation to develop a vision for the future of Leeds City Council owned and managed public parks and green spaces beyond 2020, and a strategy for how to deliver that vision over the next 10 years. The new strategy will replace the previous strategy which runs to 2020.

Have your say: https://surveys.leeds.gov.uk/s/G76QA/

Public Consultation Document: Final Towards a Leeds Parks Green Spaces Strategy to 2030