Sadiq Khan announces first-ever London National Park Week

In his quest to make London the world’s first National Park City with over half of the city's space green, Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the first ever London National Park City Week to celebrate the capital’s natural environment and encourage Londoners to make it even greener.

Khan is aiming to turn the city 50% green by 2050 with help of the National Park City foundation, amid plans to declare the capital a National Park City in 2019.

Calling on the different community groups to get involved, he said the program included policies to protect and increase green space and access to it.

It would also aim to contribute to better management of the green infrastructure for the benefit of all citizens, helping to identify the economic value of London’s green infrastructure to build the case for essential investment.

Khan had already funded the planting of thousands more trees, allocating funds to help London’s boroughs invest in the capital’s parks. Earlier in February, he also announced £6m extra funding for more green spaces and a reduction of plastic waste.

His £9m Greener City Fund was already delivering new parks, green school playgrounds, funding the planting trees and the restoration of waterways.

National Park City Week, would take place in July (21-29) 2018, with a number of activities planned for across the capital including guided walks, talks, food growing, improving spaces for wildlife and community clean-ups.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "By making our city one of the greenest on earth, we can improve air quality, conserve wildlife and develop a green infrastructure to benefit all Londoners.

"From protecting the greenbelt and taking polluting vehicles off our streets, to providing communities with money to develop new green areas, I am working hard to improve London’s environment."