Quiet Parks International awarded Urban Quiet Park status to Hampstead Heath in London on July 18th, World Listening Day.
Hampstead Heath Urban Quiet Park became the first Urban Quiet Park in Europe. Field recordist, Nicholas Allan, prepared the report for QPI, describing Hampstead Heath as “wild” and “natural” with “plenty of opportunities to find refuge from city noise.”
The Hampstead Heath Management Committee received this award for protecting Hampstead Heath’s quiet over many decades. This award aligns with this year’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Hampstead Heath Act 1871, which marked the beginning of open spaces preservation.
Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath Management Committee, Anne Fairweather, said: “We are delighted the Heath has been recognised as Europe’s first urban quiet park. It is a truly treasured, iconic green space, where visitors can take time out to relax. The Heath has played a leading role in the physical and mental health of Londoners by providing a lifeline during the coronavirus pandemic. As the capital reopens, it is proving a popular and much-loved destination and wildlife haven.”
The Noise Abatement Society, which works closely with UK government, local governments, industry, academic institutions and the public shared this award. Simon Gosling, CMO and Host of The Quiet Mark Podcast received the award on behalf of Gloria Elliott OBE, CEO of Noise Abatement Society, (Co Founder & Chair of Quiet Mark), “The only UK national charitable foundation whose sole focus is to help stop excessive and unnecessary noise to protect the public and improve the aural environment.” The NAS was established in 1959. Poppy Szkiler, CEO and Co Founder of Quiet Mark, shares the award.
Image Credit: Liz Isles Photography. From L to R - Sound Recordist, Nicholas Allan presents the QPI Award to Quiet Mark, CMO, Simon Gosling and Leisure & Events Manager - of North London Open Spaces, Paul Maskell.
“Poppy and I are thrilled and honoured to be recognised by Quiet Parks International – the charitable aim of both the Noise Abatement Society and Quiet Mark is to raise awareness about the devastating affect of unwanted and excessive noise on people of all ages and in all areas of life, and then to find practical solutions to solve these problems”, says Gloria.
“So we share an understanding of the immense value of quiet public spaces which are essential for community health and well-being. They create the opportunity to ‘turn off’ from the hectic stresses of life, relax and be at one with nature”.
“Everyone should have access to a natural, quiet amenity, wherever they live” states Gloria.
More Urban Quiet Parks are planned for Judarskogen, Hansta, Älvsjöskogen, Kyrkhamn och Sätraskogen parks in Stockholm, Sweden, this September. This will be closely followed by Dender-Marke Quiet Area in Flanders, Belgium, New York Central Park’s The Rambles and Houston’s Armand Bayou Nature Preserve before the end of 2021. Yangmingshan Urban Quiet Park, Taiwan, became the world’s first Urban Quiet Park in June 2020.
Quiet Parks International, a non-profit organisation based in Los Angeles, is on a mission to save quiet for the benefit of all life by establishing Urban Quiet Parks, Wilderness Quiet Parks, Quiet Trails, Quiet Marine Parks and more, worldwide. Quiet is essential not only for human health and welfare but also for wildlife who require a clean acoustic environment to communicate and complete their life-cycle.
Find out more about Quiet Parks International in this BBC NEWS feature: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210712-the-worlds-most-endangered-sound
Our huge thanks to Vikram Chauhan and Gordon Hempton of QPI for this wonderful award.
Read more in Afar Magazine's 'Europe’s First Urban Quiet Park Is Finally Here' article here.
