Events in London's parks: the friends' perspective.

In the contemporary era, a period when consuming experiences is a significant part of the urban economy, events are one of the most visible, popular and yet controversial functions of park settings. Festivals and events provide entertainment, but they also have important social effects – attracting different types of people to go to parks and encouraging London’s diverse communities to encounter one another. They are also the most obvious user conflicts – with large paid entry events affecting the accessibility of park space at times when demand for everyday park use is highest. This report explores the different types of events staged in London’s parks, and assesses the range of impacts they have, both positive and negative. The report is based on a qualitative survey of Friends’ groups undertaken in the Spring of 2020. There are now over 600 groups in London and they play an important role in helping to protect, manage and maintain the city’s parks and green spaces. This means Friends groups can provide informed and involved commentaries on the state of London’s parks.