Respecting our parks

For many of us, just being out in our local park and able to see or hear others has served as an important reminder that we are connected within a wide, diverse community.

Deptford resident Aruna Vieira has been working in Lewisham’s parks for 17 years. Now Junior Manager for Parks Services at Glendale, the Council’s parks maintenance contractor, Aruna explains why he’s so happy in his work – and reminds us of the need to treat our green spaces with the respect they deserve.

“I really like open spaces and I chose this as the area in which I would like to make a difference. I wanted to help people enjoy their parks. Conserving wild areas is very important for our quality of life and wellbeing – not only during lockdowns, but all the more urgent at those times.

“A park is a connection with the community. You have opportunities to meet others from different cultures and backgrounds, and enjoy the same space together. Everyone is welcome.

“Before the pandemic, people would come to parks at weekends and probably not really think about how they were maintained. But with people working from home or being furloughed, numbers have really increased on weekdays. I have never seen it like this. People see the contribution we make. It makes me very proud to be helping to make a difference to this diverse community of Lewisham.

“Demand for removing litter has become very intense. I would ask people to help us to look after the parks and be kind to each other by helping to recycle and taking their litter home.

“I have two daughters and take them out on their bikes to open spaces every day after work – and we go to parks as much as possible at weekends.

“I want them to grow up loving and respecting nature. We take a bag with us so that it’s easy to bring our litter home.

“Nobody plans to drop litter, but I’ve found that by getting into the habit of taking a bag whenever we go out, we can leave nature as we found it – ready for other visitors to enjoy after us.”