Park Friends Seek To Make Green Spaces an Election Issue

Volunteer groups call for all parties to commit to improvement

Lack of expertise blamed for the over aggressive culling of this Pyracantha (left) which should have been fruiting at the time (right). Picture: Friends of Parks Forum

March 6, 2026

Hounslow’s Friends of Parks Forum has published a set of priorities for the borough’s green spaces ahead of May’s local elections, calling on all parties to commit to protecting and improving parks for both people and wildlife. The Forum, which brings together volunteer groups from across the borough, says its proposals are designed to deliver better outcomes within existing budgets by investing in skills, transparency and long-term protection.

The four-point plan includes calls for a dedicated capital repairs budget, improved training for parks staff, greater community involvement in funding decisions, and legal protection for parks through deeds of dedication with Fields in Trust. The Forum says these measures would help address the growing pressures on urban green space and ensure parks remain accessible, safe and ecologically valuable.

Chair Kathleen Healy said parks were more important than ever for residents’ wellbeing and for wildlife, especially as more people live in flats without gardens and face rising costs. “For families feeling the cost-of-living crisis and needing to keep children active and entertained, the local park is an essential free space for happy family time,” she said. “Parks provide an opportunity for people, unable to access the countryside, to see, enjoy and value wildlife.”

The Forum argues that Friends groups have deep local knowledge and are well placed to advise on park management. “We visit them weekly or daily. We know the challenges and where the opportunities are to deliver more and better with the same funding,” Ms Healy said.

She also highlighted the importance of skilled staff, noting that few parks workers currently hold high-level horticultural or land management qualifications, and that some practices — such as cutting back plants at the wrong time — can unintentionally damage biodiversity. A recent example cited by the Forum was a Pyracantha in St John’s Gardens, Isleworth, cut back to a stump in December, removing berries that would have fed birds and added winter interest.

The Forum says land management is often overlooked, with no dedicated role at the council, leading to costs from invasive species, fly tipping, trespass and lost revenue from unregulated commercial use. It argues that investment in training and a culture of high aspiration could lift the quality of parks without increasing spending.

On funding, the Forum is calling for greater transparency in how Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money is allocated to parks projects. It wants Friends groups and residents to be involved from the start, adopting a model of “Engage, Deliberate, Decide” rather than “Decide, Announce, Defend”. It also warns that new facilities are sometimes built without a maintenance plan or budget, undermining long-term value.

Finally, the Forum is urging the council to protect parks in perpetuity by entering into deeds of dedication with Fields in Trust, following the example of Hammersmith and Fulham. “Planning protection for parks is being eroded,” Ms Healy said. “With more people, including families living in overcrowded conditions, we need more not less open space.”

The Forum’s proposals are expected to be shared with all political groups ahead of the election. The council has not yet responded to the asks.