Fields in Trust has announced that HRH The Prince of Wales is to become Patron of the charity and continue to advocate for the crucial role parks and green space play in our towns and cities.
His Royal Highness will succeed Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II who was Patron for an incredible 70 years.
Photo: The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the first Queen Elizabeth II Field in Blackburn, 2011.
Jo Barnett, Chair of Fields in Trust, said: “As President of Fields in Trust HRH The Prince of Wales has championed the importance of creating a better future for parks and green spaces since 2013 and we are both honoured and delighted that he will now become our Patron.
“We believe that parks and green spaces can be pivotal addressing some of the biggest challenges we face today. His Royal Highness has been instrumental in helping us raise awareness of the importance of these spaces for health, wellbeing and the environment; issues that are all incredibly close to his heart.
“As we approach our centenary in 2025, we look forward to working with The Prince of Wales to build on our legacy and ensure that communities will always have access to parks and green spaces both now and for generations to come.”
HRH The Prince of Wales's patronage comes at an important time for parks and green spaces. This year, the Trust’s Green Space Index research revealed a bleak picture when it comes to access to nature, with parks and green spaces suffering from cuts in funding or being lost to development.
It found that 6.3 million people in Great Britain do not have any access to a park or green space within a ten-minute walk from home, and that 4,000 new spaces need to be created by 2033 to maintain current levels of provision.
HRH The Prince of Wales has been supporting Fields in Trust’s work for a number of years. Since 2007, HRH The Prince of Wales has regularly taken part in polo fixtures, raising funds and awareness for Fields in Trust.
HRH The Prince of Wales was the Patron of our ambitious Diamond Jubilee Appeal, which launched in 2010, leading the efforts to protect and create over 1,200 spaces as a tribute to HM The Queen.
