The Parks and Green Space Network
In 2020, The Parks Alliance and the Landscape Institute (LI) united to support a consortium of over 50 organisations and practitioners in the parks and green space sector and create a stronger voice for parks.
The Parks and Green Space Network (PGSN) is the new collaborative, inclusive body providing sector leadership for parks, representing and empowering the people that create, maintain, invest in, and use our green spaces.
About the Network
The PGSN’s vision is ‘…for everyone to have access to quality green spaces that improve their physical and mental health, are inclusive, that contribute to the sustainability of their community and the world, and that support the economic vitality of their neighbourhood, town, or city.’
The Network aims to provide sector leadership, create a professional home for park professionals, and promote knowledge sharing. It includes representatives from across the UK public, private, and voluntary sectors, academia, and more.
With the support of a network steering group, as well as the LI’s policy, membership, development, and communications teams, the PGSN continues to grow and evolve.
If you’d like to join the Network, please contact parks@landscapeinstitute.org.
Creating a new professional home for parks
The PGSN is working with the LI to create a professional home for parks and green space managers. This project aims to:
- Drive improvement, building capacity in the parks and green space sector by creating a standards-based approach to professional development.
- Deliver value for parks and green space managers with a development programme that reflects their professional needs.
- Provide professional qualifications with pathways to Technician and Chartered membership of the Landscape Institute.
The Landscape Institute, Natural England, Green Flag Award and APSE are exploring this with colleagues from across the Network. To find out more or get involved, please contact parks@landscapeinstitute.org.
Sector leadership
In our landmark Greener Recovery October 2020 policy paper, the LI called on the UK Government to seize a ‘once in a generation chance’ to deliver a truly green economic recovery from COVID-19.
During the COVID lockdowns, parks and green spaces provided a lifeline for millions and became a vital part of the national response to the pandemic. The government should now make them a central part of the nation’s economic and social recovery – levelling up access to parks and green space, investing in a talented green workforce, and introducing clear standards for green spaces.
Sharing knowledge
The PGSN has supported the development of an international Parks and Green Spaces Resource Hub created by Green Flag Award. The free-to-use portal seeks to better equip and empower parks professionals through an ethos of learning, sharing, and mutual support. The eventual aim is to transfer the Parks Alliance resource pages to the Hub to create a single, comprehensive resource.