Join us on the Park from 21 – 29 July and find out how you can get involved with National Park City Week!

From 21 – 29 July, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is celebrating National Park City Week. An initiative led by the Major of London to get more people outdoors and enjoying the green spaces that the city provides to encourage a greater connection with nature and with the ultimate aim of making the city a greener place! 

Executive Director of Park Operations and Venues, Mark Camley, has been speaking about why Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is celebrating National Park City Week. 

The Mayor of London is calling on all Londoners to play their part in making London greener during National Park City Week. How can Park visitors help to achieve this at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park?
The National Park City (NPC) concept provides the opportunity to consider London as a single eco-system and a variety of green spaces that collectively contribute to the life of Londoners through cleaner air, urban cooling, community cohesion, nature and health benefits.

Visitors to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park can enjoy all of these benefits directly whilst visiting the Park but also think about how they could make a small difference to London’s environment - perhaps through having a window box. 

Why do you think campaigns like National Park City are important?
London NPC is a people led movement - completely democratic and building consensus one convert at a time.  If everyone in London with a private garden gave just one square meter to nature, that would be over 1 million square metres of extra green space for nature to enjoy. 

What role do you think parks play in the physical and mental health of society? 
There is a lot of scientific and medical research that shows how parks and green spaces are beneficial for your physical and mental health - reducing blood pressure, levels of stress and allowing you to enjoy nature and big skies. 

What are your top tips for anyone visiting Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park during National Park City week?
Parks are naturally cool - always a few degrees below the surrounding city, so if the temperature is rising head to the Park and enjoy the calming effect of green space and water designed to reduce your stress and leave you feeling more relaxed.  Take off your shoes and socks and enjoy the feeling of grass beneath your feet!

Additionally, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park provides a wonderful green link between the Thames, Lee Valley Regional Park and Hackney Marshes, known as the Lea River Park, creating an ecological corridor and providing a haven for wildlife. Visitors are invited to explore the route and enjoy the great outdoors.   

What’s one thing about Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park people might not know?
The North Park bowl is designed to flood during bad weather, protecting 5,000 homes south of the river from flooding.

Find out more about National Park City Week and what is happening on the Park here.