green+spaces+-+local+parks+-+UK+networks

=**UK Friends Networks**=


 * Linking up across London and the UK**

There are probably at least 2-3000 local Friends groups around the UK. Many of them have got together in their borough, town or region to form a network or forum as we have in Haringey. In the last 2 - 3 years more of these forums/networks are springing up as Friends groups realise that many of the same issues affect all parks and open spaces. By strengthening communication and cooperation among us we can share news and views, and develop a huge UK-wide grass roots movement and pressure group to protect and improve all urban green open space in the UK.

Some examples of contacts we have made so far:


 * Bristol Forum: Well established. 80 groups.
 * Liverpool Forum: Been going 1 year. 30 groups.
 * Birmingham Open Spaces Forum: Well established. 96 groups. [|www.bosf.org.uk]
 * Wirral Forum: Been going 1 year. 10-20 groups.
 * Sunderland Forum (Open Spaces Network): Been going 1 year. 14 groups.
 * Nottingham County Forum: Covers a quarter of the county. 40 groups.
 * Haringey Forum: Well established. 30 groups. That's us!
 * Greenwich Forum: Been going 1 year. 20-ish groups.
 * Hackney Parks Forum: Going 15yrs. Around 20 groups.
 * Stockport Greenspace Forum: Set up in 2000. Around 50 local groups.

If you live outside Haringey and are involved in a borough/town/regional network of Friends groups, please send its details to: Friends Forum 

There is also a national GreenSpace website with loads of info about open spaces and community involvement. In particular it has online discussion lists that Friends groups can sign up to. [|www.green-space.org.uk]

Other various local Friends groups websites around the UK: [|www.sandallpark.org.uk] - Doncaster
 * [|www.friendsofkirkhallamlake.org.uk]** - Kirk Hallam, Derbyshire