This year the work of the GoParksLondon team to support park community groups has been chosen to benefit from matching of supporter donations through the Big Give Christmas Challenge. This means anything you give online to our Christmas appeal from today until 12pm on 6th December will be doubled in value and impact!

It would be wonderful you could support our efforts to give volunteer park friends groups working in low-income areas the resources they need to plant and maintain hedgerows, trees, wild-flower areas and edible gardens in neglected green spaces. This in turn will help capture carbon while simultaneously nurturing nature to enhance the wellbeing of wildlife and Londoners.

Your support will make a big difference to groups like the Friends of Winsford Gardens and Royston Field (aka Penge Green Gym) – which recruits many of its volunteers through social referrals because of the physical and health benefits of active volunteering outdoors.

“We're trying to increase the biodiversity in the park as well as improve the whole atmosphere and feel of the place for local people to come in.... We get volunteers from the local area, Penge, which is quite a deprived social area.” (Brenda Little – Penge Green Gym)

“I really enjoy coming - basically to help the local community - and because it’s a very social activity and I find it helpful personally.” (One of Penge Green Gym’s volunteer team)

The urban hedgerows Penge Green Gym are planning to plant as part of this project will beautify the landscape of Royston Field and increase tranquillity and air quality within by screening off an ugly carpark – enhancing the space now and for future generations.

It would be really wonderful if you could support our work so that hedgerows, trees and other plants used to enhance neglected green spaces get the long-term ongoing love and care they need in order to thrive and become a real community asset.

Please donate now by clicking on this link.

Thanks to the match funding available, if you give £25 that will be doubled to £50, enough to support friends groups to lay and maintain more than 10 feet of urban hedgerow. The match funding is only available for up to seven days from midday on 29th November – and may run out sooner – so to maximise the impact of your giving on creating a greener London please give today.

Thank you so much!