Parks and green spaces

Are there many parks or green spaces where you live?

Yeah, actually there are quite a few. I live in a fairly crowded area, but the city’s made a real effort to create small parks and tree-lined walkways between the buildings. There’s one big central park with a lake, and then lots of little neighbourhood gardens. So even though it’s urban, you never have to walk far to find a patch of green.

How often do you visit parks?

I’d say I go to a park two or three times a week, depending on the weather and how busy I am. If I’ve had a stressful day, I deliberately take the long route home through the park just to clear my head. At the weekend I usually spend at least an hour there, either in the morning or late afternoon.

What do you like to do when you go to a park?

It depends on my mood, to be honest. Sometimes I just sit on a bench, listen to a podcast and people-watch. Other times I walk briskly around the paths to get a bit of exercise. If I go with friends, we might grab a takeaway coffee and just chat on the grass, or take photos when the flowers are in bloom.

Did you go to parks often when you were a child?

Yes, all the time. My parents didn’t want me stuck indoors, so every weekend they’d take me to the local park to ride my bike and play on the swings. I remember flying kites with my dad on windy days and having simple picnics on an old blanket. Those trips really shaped my appreciation for being outdoors.