Connecting with nature in London

As a retired allotment holder I benefit from a reduced rent. The site receives horse manure & tree surgery shredded waste. This facility helps create good sustainable gardening practice. Allotments should be celebrated & promoted in supporting healthy outdoor activity.

With regard to waterways I would say it is important to establish what the water quality objectives should be and then work towards achieving those objectives. The objectives should be defined by the anticipated usage. So, since swimming in a canal or river would likely be very dangerous due to boat traffic or other reasons this would not be an appropriate usage. Therefore the water quality in a canal or river does not need to be the same as in a swimming pool. It is unrealistic to expect rivers and canals, which are frequented by wildlife, to be free from microbial pollution. I would say that the relevant uses for the vast majority of watercourses in London should be maintenance of wildlife, general amenity and, possibly, boating. The relevant water quality objectives required to support these uses would then be suitably low nutrient levels to prevent eutrophication, suitably high oxygen levels to support aquatic life, and freedom from all rubbish. Complete absence of sewage bacteria is not required.

More trees and planters in the streets is good, but much more care should be taken in siting them so that they don't block places where people cross the road. And that they don't block the view where people cross the road - this makes it more dangerous. 

The London Plan and local borough plans should give much more protection to 'wilding' in park design. Too many parks are mown grass and showy flower beds and shrubberies. This is only superficially 'green' and is not as beneficial as green areas that have more resemblance to wild nature. Where I live a park is to be redeveloped into a much more urban format than it currently is. The landscape designers could have taken a different approach, that enhanced the 'wild' look and atmosphere. This would have been much more beneficial for birds, and insects, as well as for the physical and mental health of people visiting the park. 

Our parks are becoming overused and overcrowded, and events are too large and go on for too long, taking a dreadful toll of grass, wildflowers and nature. The benefits of walking in 'nature' are greatly reduced because of the overcrowding and events. Access could be rationed, but instead more parks should be provided, even though this would be contentious and costly. We reall do need many more parks, including more large and medium sized ones. The Mayor should look for a way to make more parks. 

My friend and I have completed both the Capital Ring and London Loop over the past couple of years as well as a number of 'Waterways' walks. (Dollis Brook, Waterlink Way, Wandle way, Regent's Canal, Paddington Arm, etc.). As we both have Freedom Passes this has cost us the sum total of 'Nothing'!! What better way to spend a day a week!!!

I regularly go for walks through local parks, woodlands and green spaces and find this has a really positive impact on my mental health. I love open green spaces like Hamstead Heath and Alexandra Park with views right across the city. I'd like to see more joined up nature walking routes through London with more street planting to connect disparate green spaces (which will benefit wildlife as well as people).

 I find that many nature volunteer activities involve older people and only take place in the middle of the working day, so aren't much good for us with a 9-5. More evening and weekend volunteering activities would be good to see. 

I also love swimming but wouldn't fancy jumping into any London canal or pond - too much pollution, plastic, fag butts and duck poo!

I regularly walk on the paths and along the waterways in Greater London.  We are beyond fortunate in having access to so many. However, they do need constant maintenance on a regular basis otherwise they become overgrown and attract vandalism.   
Atm waterways are not guaranteed to be pollution free so until that happens activities, even ones like pond dipping or gentle paddling for children are impossible.  
We also  need much better signage to parks and outdoor spaces from densely populated areas.  So many Londoners have no idea what is even half a mile to a mile away from where they live.  

I already write guidebooks for walking routes in London, including beside waterways.  I am not interested in swimming in waterways.

I would spend more time in parks and by waterways I'd they felt safer, the large parks in Central London feel safe (at least by day) but some local parks and canal paths are not places to visit as a lone woman. 

Question 15 (which your form prevents me from pasting here) had 3 possible answers, none of which I wanted to choose, but I was forced to choose one, so I was forced to lie.

If I had wanted to choose more than one answer, I was also prevented, and forced to choose only one.

Please allow people to answer as they see fit and don't force them to lie!