A Green Space is an area of grass, trees, or other vegetation set apart for recreational or aesthetic purposes in an otherwise urban environment.
The Botanical Gardens, Zoological Park and National Park form the core components of Georgetown’s network of green spaces.Internationally several medical researchers and scientists recently looked at many different outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail.

They found growing evidence that just five minutes of exercise in a “green space” such as a park can boost mental health.
In the latest analysis, UK researchers looked at evidence from 1,250 people in 10 studies and found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem.
With longer periods of time exercising in a green environment, the positive effects were clearly apparent, the study found.
The study published in an Environmental Science and Technology journal suggested the strongest impact was on young people.
One study found that for people living busy lifestyles in densely populated areas, being able to get outdoors and access green space is a great way to escape the stresses of day-to-day life.

In Georgetown, the Botanical Gardens, Zoological Park and National Park are among the very few places within the city that provide large recreational spaces and the opportunity to interact with local flora and wildlife.

In particular, the Zoo and Botanical Gardens play key roles in increasing environmental educational and awareness among the city’s residents, and serve as important links between Guyana’s large urban population and our efforts to conserve our forests under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

These parks, formerly managed by the National Parks Commission, are now managed by the recently created Protected Areas Commission (PAC), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.
Opened in 1966 and covering 57 acres, the National Park is an important Green Space for exercise, sporting and recreation.
In the early days after its opening the National Park was crisscrossed with canals and visitors could hire small boats containing paddles and enjoy paddling these boats in these canals for hours at a time.
Officials of the PAC recently disclosed that a recent weeklong study carried out by University of Guyana (UG) Environmental Science students found that on average almost 1,000 people visit the Park every day between 3 pm and 6 pm alone.
The value of these recreational services, if calculated at an average monthly gym membership of $3,000 per person, would amount to $3M per month or $36M per year, all provided free of cost to Guyanese, the PAC has said.
Established in 1952, the Guyana Zoological Park is arguably the most important nature-based recreational facility in Guyana.
The Park sits on approximately four acres of land in the Botanical Gardens and currently exhibits 232 animals representing 39 species.
The Zoo also plays an important role as an animal sanctuary, with over 80% of the Zoo’s animals being brought in abandoned, injured, unwanted, and, in many cases, unable to survive in the wild.
The Zoo is ideally positioned to increase environmental educational and awareness among school children and Guyanese in general on the need for conservation.
The oldest of the three parks, the Botanical Gardens was established in 1879 and is spread over 96 acres of land in the heart of Georgetown.
The Gardens is home to a variety of tropical plants and animals normally found in Guyana’s interior. (To be continued)
Written By Clifford Stanley