Wild in the Parks community involvement conference

On 18 February 2009 a conference on how to involve new audiences in their local green spaces will be held in London Zoo. This will be based on the experiences of the Wild in the Parks team who have run a three year community outreach project in Regent's Park.

Wild in the Parks is run by The Royal Parks and the RSPB and is a Heritage Lottery Funded project. It involves a model wildlife garden in Regent's Park and is aimed at bringing people closer to wildlife in their local green spaces. This project has engaged with more than 20,000 people, including schoolchildren and unemployed adults. Feedback from participants shows the project has made a real impact, changing people's perceptions about urban wildlife and giving them confidence.

The conference is free and is primarily aimed at green space managers and staff working in community engagement in the regeneration, development, and policy sectors. The conference will show what worked for Wild in the Parks and what will work for other organisations.

Media enquiries:

For further information or images please contact:

Tim Webb, RSPB on 020 7808 1246 or tim.webb@rspb.org.uk

Katy Murray, The Royal Parks on 0300 061 2128 or kmurray@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

About the Opening Up the Outdoors Conference:

• The 'Opening Up the Outdoors Conference' will be held in London Zoo on the Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY. It will take place on 18 February 2009 from 9.30am - 4.30pm.
• The Keynote speakers will be as follows: TV Wildlife presenter Mike Dilger; BTCV Head of Diversity Clifford Davy; Claire Rishbeth, University of Sheffield; and Aretha George, Heritage Lottery Fund.
• To reserve a place at the conference, please contact: Catriona Corfield, or Corina Lewington - wildintheparks@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk or call 0207 9357430.

About the Wild in the Parks project:

• Wild in the Parks is a partnership project between the Royal Parks and the RSPB. It is a three-year Heritage Lottery Funded project, tasked with bringing more people in to parks and open spaces. The project started in January 2006 and will end in February 2009. A team of three staff and numerous volunteers work with community groups and schools local to parks in Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham and the Royal Parks on a range of innovative wildlife projects.
• The Wild in the Parks Community Wildlife Garden is next to the Tennis Courts off York Bridge between the inner and outer circles of Regent's Park. The nearest tube station is Baker Street. There are cycle racks at the Tennis Court Café.

About The Regent's Park:

• The Regent's Park covers 166 hectares (410 acres) and includes stunning rose gardens with more than 30,000 roses of 400 varieties. The Park has excellent sports facilities and with nearly 100 acres available is the largest outdoor sports area in Central London.

About the RSPB:

• The RSPB is the UK's biggest conservation charity, supported by more than a million members.
• The RSPB delivers conservation, research and education as well as running more than 200 nature reserves across the UK.
• The RSPB speaks up for nature, protecting special places, birds and other wildlife in the UK and abroad.
• For further information please visit www.rspb.org.uk.

About The Royal Parks:

• The Royal Parks is an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
• The Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Richmond Park and St James's Park.
• For further information please visit: www.royalparks.org.uk.