Coronavirus Guidance

Parks and green spaces are crucial for exercise and mental wellbeing. To stop the spread of COVID-19, you must continue to follow the Government’s rules on social distancing. Please note the play area at Abington Park is currently CLOSED.

There is now new guidance on using parks and green spaces. There will be a limited number of things you can do from Wednesday 13 May. The changes mean that you can:

  • spend time outdoors – for example sitting in parks and enjoying the fresh air
  • exercise as often as you wish – following social distancing guidelines
  • meet one other person from a different household outdoors – following social distancing guidelines
  • use outdoor sports facilities (if re-opened) such as a tennis or basketball court, or golf course – with members of your household, or one other person while staying 2 metres apart. Team sports are not permitted.
  • continue to stay local, but you can drive to a green space if absolutely necessary. Please walk or cycle where you can.

Despite these changes to the rules, it’s still possible for the coronavirus to spread from person to person, so please ensure you keep 2 metres apart from anyone that you do not live with. As with before, you still cannot:

  • use an outdoor gym, playground or any other facility that has been closed
  • gather in a group of more than two (excluding members of your own household).

It is vital that you take these steps:

  • Do not visit the park if you have any symptoms – fever, coughs, shortness of breath. See NHS guidelines if this applies to you.
  • Please consider that people without gardens rely on the park, if you have a garden, make use of this space for exercise and fresh air.
  • To ensure you can continue to observe social distancing, use all areas of the park that remain open, not just the paths, so you can maintain 2 metres distance from others.
  • If the park is crowded, do not enter if you cannot safely stay at a distance from others.
  • Avoid touching surfaces (such as gates or hand-rails) and your mouth and face. Please follow Public Health England advice on hygiene and wash your hands as soon as you get home.
  • Keep your dog on a lead to ensure you can safely keep 2 metres away from others.
  • Pay attention to instructions provided by parks services including any officials on site. Temporary measures have been put in place to safeguard you.
  • Do not use areas of the park that have been closed– these are closed to stop the possible spread of COVID-19 through touching surfaces and keeping a safe distance from others.
  • Please take all your litter home with you.

Please respect other people and protect the natural environment

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