I've spoken before on here about the value of our public parks and green spaces.

They contribute so much to local communities across the country - for heath & well being, as a respite from modern life and for enhancing the environment.

But they can only achieve these things if they are well maintained by skilled turf professionals. Yes there's a place for volunteers, but local authorities cannot rely on these good-willed individuals as a means of saving money, over and above trained experts.

It is however an increasing reality that funding cuts mean these green spaces are under threat. Therefore, it was heartening to read that UK-wide charity Fields in Trust is running an awareness campaign, culminating in a day of celebration they are calling the Have A Field Day event on Saturday 8th July. The national event is intended to show the many different ways people use their public parks and why local communities value them so greatly.

Fields in Trust are reporting that local authority funding cuts could have a damaging impact on the nation’s health. They say that research shows that local access to green space leads to people feeling healthier and happier - and becoming more active as a result.

As mentioned recently in TurfPro, the CLG Parliamentary Committee report into Public Parks calls for more recognition of the contribution that parks make to our communities. As an advocate for parks, playing fields and recreation grounds Fields in Trust has been calling for just such a re-valuing of greenspace, to take account not just of the cost of upkeep, but the vital contribution they make to health, wellbeing and community cohesion and ensure they are safeguarded for future generations.

The charity says that half of the UK population (57%) regularly use parks each month; families with children being the most frequent visitors (90%). As well as getting physically active, one in ten also says the park is the place they would go to gain clarity and to improve their overall mental wellbeing. Local green space is vitally important in meeting the government’s aim of creating a more active nation; an ambition which requires all kinds of formal and informal recreational space to be accessible.

Worryingly though, Fields In Trust say, "continued funding cuts mean green spaces are less well maintained and are under threat due to pressure on land for housing and retail developments." They go on to say nearly 92% of local authority parks departments have experienced budget cuts in the past three years.

This is a truly concerning statistic. It's natural that when people are asked where they want their local taxes to be spent health and education will be the go to answers. But I'm sure if most people thought they were going to lose their local, well-maintained park, they would be very supportive of decent funding levels being maintained.

So, it seems that any publicity which can be generated which gets the public thinking about the consequences of these cuts, should be applauded and supported.

To this end, Fields in Trust is encouraging people to come together on 8th July - the anniversary of the first meeting of the National Playing Fields Association at the Royal Albert Hall in 1925.

The Have a Field Day 2017 event is supported by the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces, parkrun and 38Degrees each of whom is encouraging their networks of park users to join the celebration on July 8th.

Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, said “Our Research helps us understand how a local park can contribute to its neighbourhood but the real value of a green space is determined by the local community who use it for play, sport and recreation. Each of the thousands of parks playing fields and playgrounds across the UK is valuable to the neighbourhood that it serves. Fields in Trust believe we should re-value our green spaces as resources which contribute to public health, mental wellbeing and community cohesion, not simply view them as a drain on council finances for upkeep. If you Love Your Local Park we encourage you to get together with neighbours on 8th July and celebrate our precious parks and playing fields.”

From today organisers can register their events on the Fields in Trust website, www.fieldsintrust.org/haveafieldday.

All registered events will be able to access a downloadable toolkit with ideas to help run a successful community event. A pack of support materials will be provided to those who commit to raising funds for Fields in Trust’s work. There is no blueprint for how an event should look, however, with each Have a Field Day reflective of the local community the park serves.

All of which sounds like a fabulous idea and hopefully one which will be taken up nationwide.