Love Parks is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the green spaces of Wandsworth – which has one of the highest number of council-owned parks and open spaces in inner London.

It’s a nationwide celebration and opportunity for residents to get out and enjoy their favourite park, or discover new ones, and appreciate exactly why parks matter so much.

Wandsworth is one of the greenest of London boroughs with 32 public parks – many with children’s playgrounds – while parks, open spaces, and private gardens cover 40 per cent of the borough.

“I’m always amazed when people I know say they never come to their local park,” said resident Anne Bristow, out walking her dog, Cherry. “It’s free and it’s just a beautiful escape from the bustle of the city. Cherry and I enjoy walking around our nearest green space, Falcon Park, and I’m pleased there is this celebration of parks taking place because we have so many around here.”

This year residents have even more to celebrate following improvements and developments to Battersea Park as part of a £840,000 investment programme.

A disused area of the park – neglected for decades – was recently brought back to life in a £100,000 scheme funded by the council and a generous donation of £30,000 by The Friends of Battersea Park.

“It’s great here and I love the view of the bridge and the Thames,” said Anne, taking a seat in the new area known as The Promontory.

Alongside The Promontory Battersea Park has also benefitted from a new children’s playground, new landscaping and the refurbishment of the Victorian seating shelters, with other works in the pipeline.

Councillor Steffi Sutters, cabinet member for Community Services and Open Spaces, said: “Love Parks is a fantastic campaign that we are going to run throughout the summer in Wandsworth to champion the borough’s green spaces and encourage people to enjoy them.

“So much hard work goes into maintaining, enhancing and improving our parks and they are something to be really proud of. As Anne said – our borough is full of parks big and small so I hope people will get out and explore some of the green spaces they may never have been to before.”

As part of the campaign we are encouraging people to take pictures of our parks over the summer and post them on Instagram under the hashtag #LoveParksWandsworth.

You can also tweet us a photo at @enableLC, @EnableParks and @wandbc

Those who submit the best pictures will receive free tickets to Foodstock LDN (which takes place in Battersea Park from July 27-29) with the best overall picture appearing with a picture credit on the next front cover of Brightside magazine.

Find out more at: wandsworth.gov.uk/loveparks

Wandsworth’s parks and open spaces are managed by Enable Leisure and Culture, on behalf of Wandsworth Council. Enable Leisure and Culture is a non-for-profit organisation, no. 09487276, and registered with the Charity Commission (no. 1172345), providing leisure and cultural services for the benefit of local communities.