I first heard about ParkLives last summer, when I noticed one of their banners up in Brynmill park. Then I spotted another banner up at Victoria park by Swansea bay, but I didn’t really know what it was all about.
And it was only at the start of the summer this year that I actually looked up ParkLives online and found out quite what I had been missing!
ParkLives is an initiative that was launched back in 2014 and is run in partnership between Coca-Cola and local authorities across the UK.
Their main aim is to get people out and active in the green spaces in their local communities, and they’re working to achieve this by offering all sorts of different fun, and free, activities.
Swansea (including Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend) is one of 10 cities in the UK that is taking part in ParkLives in 2017.
The other cities involved are Birmingham, Dundee, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham and the London Borough of Newham.
If you’re lucky enough to live in one of those areas, then head over to the ParkLives website and see what activities are on offer. There is so much choice, there’s bound to be something that interests you and your children!
If you’re looking for something nice and gentle then there are options, like Tai Chi and walk and talk sessions, that are great for getting some gentle exercise while possibly meeting new friends from the local area. There are also loads of options for the gym bunnies out there, from boot camp sessions to circuits and yoga.
The best part for me though is all the activities that are available for children.
We’ve enjoyed doing the family yoga sessions here in Swansea, and had a great time at a ‘design a duck’ craft session in Brynmill Park.
Some of the other activities for children in Swansea include:
- Parkour
- Circus skills
- Mounting boarding
- Scooters and skateboard sessions
- Dodgeball and endball
- Balance bike sessions
- Family fun days
- Golf and volleyball sessions
There really is something for everyone and the sessions are an amazing way for children to try out new activities to learn new skills and perhaps find a new interest or hobby.
The sessions generally last for about an hour and are all run by well-trained leaders and volunteers from the local area.
The people running the sessions that we’ve been along to have been really friendly and welcoming, and took the time to make sure we had everything we needed and knew what we were doing.
The emphasis at all the sessions seems to be fun, and you’re free to go at your own pace which is great for making everyone feel welcome and included. So even if you’re a complete beginner you’re encouraged to join in and give things a go.
If you live in one of the towns listed above, head over to ParkLives.com and see what activities are on offer in your local parks.
It’s really easy to do, just put your postcode in the box on the homepage and a list of activities will come up, sorted by date and time. Then just click on the activity that takes your fancy to find out a bit more information about the session.
Make sure you check if you need to book a place or not, then on the day just turn up at the park and get ready to have some fun, all for free.
What’s not to love about that?
Disclaimer – this is a sponsored post.