Councils are showcasing innovative parks schemes as part of a national campaign to transform people's lives through their local parks.

The not-for-profit campaign Love Parks Week, which is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, aims to fully utilise parks to help people get fit, get work and get involved in the community.

Local authorities, who are responsible for public parks, are working with the campaign to offer pop-up spaces to local businesses, helping people to get employment and skills training by working in parks, and running fitness programmes and organising community events.

Cllr Simon Henig, vice-chair of the Local Government Association’s culture, tourism and sport board, said: ‘Councils understand how important parks are to residents and the value they have in promoting health and fitness, local heritage, public art, festivals and wildlife walks.

‘Local authorities are enormously proud of this country's green spaces and there are many examples of how parks are used in the community, such as health and fitness, local heritage, public art, festivals and wildlife walks.’

‘Councils are taking innovative approaches to using park spaces, such as providing pop-up spaces for local businesses and giving communities a say in how their parks are run,’ he continued.

‘Ensuring parks are maintained to the highest standard is paramount. Councils are under considerable financial pressure and are taking flexible and innovative approaches to providing parks services.’