North Northamptonshire Council: Active Parks

• Purpose: To help more of the county’s residents to take part in outdoor activities, improve their access to nature, and to improve their physical and mental health. The programme also offers bespoke sessions tailored to residents with long-term health conditions and specific needs. 

• Description: The council has put together a range of programmes for different demographics within the community (e.g. young people, families, adults, and young children), providing them with opportunities to go to their local park, for health, social, and environmental reasons. The environmental sessions are conducted by education rangers, helping to educate residents about the environment and to teach them outdoor skills. The programme was rolled out in collaboration with North Northamptonshire Public Health and Northamptonshire Sports. The programme has delivered over 1,000 sessions to more than 13,000 participants since 2019. 

• Conservative councillor/council lead: Cllr Jason Smithers, leader

• Further links: Project webpage.