The London National Park City is officially the world's first National Park City. Be part of it!
London's first National Park City Festival 20 - 28 July, celebrated London's new National Park City status with over 300 free events across the capital.
The Festival was led by the Mayor of London’s Environment Team in collaboration with the National Park City Foundation and many other partners.
Signing the Charter of the London National Park City
(l-r) Daniel Raven-Ellison of National Park City Foundation; Feryal Clark Deputy Mayor & Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, Leisure and Parks Hackney; Shirley Rodrigues Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy London; Mayor of London Sadiq Khan; Tony Juniper Chair of Natural England; Kobie Brand, Director ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center.
Today I co-signed the London National Park City Charter which sets out key actions to make London a city where people, places and nature are better connected. A greener future is central to my vision for London and I’m proud we’re officially the world’s first #NationalParkCity. pic.twitter.com/e0SdqshGbS
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) July 22, 2019
London is officially the world’s first #NationalParkCity! Today, the @MayorofLondon co-signed a Charter, showcasing London's green future 🌳 pic.twitter.com/zPFVUwj2Xc
— London Live (@LondonLive) July 22, 2019
Today at the #NationalParkCity Summit, @TonyJuniper issues a rallying call for cities to become greener, healthier and wilder! @NaturalEngland pic.twitter.com/DEkhb9Vr5f
— IUCN Urban Alliance (@IucnUrban) July 22, 2019
“The London #NationalParkCity is our habitat, it’s our city. We all have a voice to shape it. We need more bold visions of a positive future - a better life.” @DanRavenEllison at the NPC Summit. pic.twitter.com/jRFyWyxQzx
— IUCN Urban Alliance (@IucnUrban) July 22, 2019
“Congratulations to everyone involved in this movement. It’s bold, positive and compelling - exactly what our planet needs!” pic.twitter.com/W7MFIMSJyB
— IUCN Urban Alliance (@IucnUrban) July 22, 2019
The opportunity of urbanisation - IUCN Urban Alliance Chair, @JonnyEcology, contributing to the spirit of optimism at the #NationalParkCity Summit. pic.twitter.com/OV5uEgBPfY
— IUCN Urban Alliance (@IucnUrban) July 22, 2019
People need nature. Cities can and must lead the way in tackling #climateemergency and shaping ambitious #NewDealforNature, due for agreement in China in 2020 @KobieBrand @TonyJuniper @LondonNPC
— Clare Shine (@ShineSalzburg) July 22, 2019
Today, we congratulate @MayorofLondon for committing to be the 1st #NationalParkCity & for joining #CitiesWithNature as a pioneer city. @SadiqKhan's vision for #London is a cleaner & greener city, taking bold action to ensure people, places & #nature are better connected! pic.twitter.com/E590qZXwlA
— CitiesWithNature (@CitiesWNature) July 22, 2019
Alison Barnes, trustee of @NatParkCityFdn, invoked the 70 year story of the National Parks, the spirit of Kinder Scout trespass. We need to honour the achievements of the past but also create what people need now. #NationalParkCity pic.twitter.com/fZMKCevPht
— London National Park City* (@LondonNPC) July 22, 2019
“Design our cities with the grain of nature...” pic.twitter.com/loXvnjwNqc
— IUCN Urban Alliance (@IucnUrban) July 22, 2019
Key dates
29 June - National Park City Talks and Pop-up Picnic Fair at Conway Hall
20 - 28 July - London National Park City Festival
22 July - Launch event and Summit at City Hall
22 July 2019 - 21 July 2020 - Launch year - we invite you to organise your own mini opening ceremony
London National Park City is Opening*
You can badge any event, project, talk, walk, celebration with our new London National Park City is Opening* wordmark or any of our other wordmarks. Download from our IdentityToolkit page and use on posters, online posts, websites, and more.
As a group, business, organisation organising an event, talk, project etc in support of the launch of the National Park City in 2019 you may use this to badge any aspect. On posters, online, etc.
Download London National Park City Is Opening* - all colours and formats
10 ways to get involved this summer
1. Check out our speakers from our 29th June Talks www.nationalparkcity.london/talks
2. Take part in the first National Park City Festival.Taking place between 20-28th July, and hosted by the Mayor of London this will be London’s largest free celebration of the outdoors, celebrating everything green and wild about the city. Themes include stage, rooftops, splash, forest and wildlife, all to celebrate London’s new status as the world’s first National Park City. nationalparkcity.london.gov.uk
3. Hold a mini opening ceremony. Rather than just having one big opening ceremony, we’re inviting anyone to hold mini opening ceremony to celebrate the launch anytime from May until 21 July 2020. makelifebetter.nationalparkcity.london
4. Be a National Park City Maker. Anyone who is helping to make London greener, healthier and wilder can consider themselves a National Park City Maker if they want to. Feel free to add this to your online presence if you want to. www.nationalparkcity.london/makers
5. Want to Make Life Better? Us too! On our website we are sharing quests that include lots of simple things you can do to make life better for yourself, for others and for wildlife. makelifebetter.nationalparkcity.london
6. Help to get the word out and use the #NationalParkCity hashtag. We need your help to spread the word about London becoming a National Park City. Bring it up in conversation, share it on newsletters and talk about it on social media. Share news, stories, events or photos that relate to London great outdoors or making the city greener, healthier and wilder using the #NationalParkCity hashtag!
7. #GiveAPlant. We’ve just launched a campaign to encourage each other to #GiveAPlant or three. You could grow nasturtium from seed and then #GiveAPlant to a friend, everyone on your street or everybody at school. Or you could give ivy to lots of neighbours and try to become an ivy street. Whatever you do, please share your efforts using the hashtags #GiveAPlant and #NationalParkCity.
8. Use the National Park City* identity. We’re really keen to see people and organisations using the London National Park City wordmark and especially the aster* that we use as our symbol. The aster is really easy to draw, stencil and find on your keyboard*. The identity lets you associate your organisation as being within the London National Park City. Find out more at www.nationalparkcity.london/identity
9. Ask your business, organisation or group to join the Network. If you are a school then check out the brand new London National Park City Schools Network that any school in London may join.
10. Set up a National Park City Group. Would you be interested in setting up an informal National Park City Group? This could be on your street, as part of an established group or within an organisation. Inspired by the National Park City you’d decide things you wanted to do together… and then do them. You might want to explore London in new ways, act to make the city greener or help us with campaigns. www.nationalparkcity.london/groups
Press
Read our 15 July press release on the launch of the London National Park City.