Connecting with nature in London
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1204 Londoners have responded | 09/01/2025 - 16/02/2025

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Only one in five Londoners have gardens and many Londoners do not have green spaces like parks, woodland or wetlands nearby.
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- What outdoor activities in London do you regularly take part in? What do you enjoy most or least about the experience?
- What activities by waterways (including rivers, canals, lakes or ponds) would you like to do (more of) in London?
- Have you been outdoor swimming in London before? Why or why not?
Tia from City Hall’s Environment team will be reading your comments and joining in the discussion.
The discussion ran from 09 January 2025 - 16 February 2025
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Log into your accountMWhapham
Community Member 6 months agoAs 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...
Show full commentAs 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.
Show less of commentS-1
Community Member 6 months agoAgree with you. Alotments are great, and there should be more of them but bonfires shouldn't be allowed on these sites.
Show full commentAgree with you. Alotments are great, and there should be more of them but bonfires shouldn't be allowed on these sites.
Show less of commentpensioner
Community Member 6 months agoWith 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...
Show full commentWith 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.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 6 months agoMore 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...
Show full commentMore 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.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 6 months agoThe 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...
Show full commentThe 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.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 6 months agoOur 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...
Show full commentOur 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.
Show less of commentTia from the E…
Official Representative 5 months agoHi livehere - thank you for your comment.
Are there any specific areas in London that you feel need more green spaces / parks?
John Hollands
Community Member 6 months agoMy 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...
Show full commentMy 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!!!
Show less of commentTia from the E…
Official Representative 5 months agoThank you for your comment John!
Can you tell me more about your experiences completing these walks? What kind of benefits do you experience from engaging in these activities and are there any improvements that could be made to infrastructure on these routes e.g. paths, signposting?
S-1
Community Member 6 months agoI 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...
Show full commentI 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!
Show less of commentMiceElf
Community Member 6 months agoI 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...
Show full commentI 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.
Show less of commentAtm 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.
Colin Saunders
Community Member 6 months agoI already write guidebooks for walking routes in London, including beside waterways. I am not interested in swimming in waterways.
Show full commentI already write guidebooks for walking routes in London, including beside waterways. I am not interested in swimming in waterways.
Show less of commentTanyaDias
Community Member 6 months agoBring back TfL free walks?
MiceElf
Community Member 6 months agoAbsolutely. And employee Ian Bull as the London Walking champion and guide.
Show full commentAbsolutely. And employee Ian Bull as the London Walking champion and guide.
Show less of commentDDavey
Community Member 6 months agoI 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.
Show full commentI 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.
Show less of commentghewson
Community Member 6 months agoQuestion 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...
Show full commentQuestion 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!
Show less of commentacj15
Community Member 6 months agoSame problem here. Forced to choose one of three, when answer i wanted to provide was "none of the above".
Mia at Talk London
Official Representative 6 months agoHi ghewson and acj15,
Thank you for your feedback on our survey.
Members have previously told us they weren’t always aware of our online discussions. We included question 15 to make this clearer and show the discussions topics, so that we can direct you to the topic of your choice - where you can share more of your views, or read what others are saying.
You can access the other discussion topics from the discussion tab, higher up this page.
Best wishes,
Mia from the Talk London team