Bluestocking lock in!

Snogging, smoking weed, having barbecues, getting hammered (cheap lager or expensive fizzy stuff, it’s the impaired judgement that’s the issue), exercising poorly trained dogs and pretending not to notice when they shit.

I do love London, truly, and it’s all good fun. But it’s nice to have a park for kids.

Adults in a park without children may: cycle or jog at speed, resenting people who interrupt their path; drink and play music loudly; snog less discreetly than you would with children in tow; play ball more powerfully than when playing with children; complain when children's games spill over.

I'd never heard of Coram fields, so that's really interesting concept. I think oldies like me wouldn't impact on anyone, but groups of young adults can be a bit boisterous. And groups of older people can hog the paths and benches (just to discriminate in an even handed fashion!)

From Wikipedia:

Coram's Fields also offers three eight-a-side football pitches, two tennis courts, a stickball field and a basketball court.

When young people, especially those whose parents can’t afford a weekly schedule of after school activities, have their options limited by the snip snip of austerity, I think there’s huge value in a space where they take priority.

No, but they’re true outside them so it provides a refuge from them.
Yes but i think any park would

I suppose it depends on how close other parks are as to how much significant it is/how much impact it has to have one closed to adults.

Anyway, happy to differ on this (but even a born & raised Londoner might find parts of Glasgow pretty interesting!!)

Nobody is suggesting this is rolled out to all London parks.

I dont think the child unfriendly aspects of London/inner city are true in a park.

No, but they’re true outside them so it provides a refuge from them.

Childless adults use a park in different ways from those with children so i dont see there being much conflict.

As a born-and-raised Londoner, I’ve seen some things, let me tell you

I agree that generational mixing benefits us all, but don’t think it’s a problem for one park in the capital city only to admit adults who are with children.

Yes very possibly

I have never been at a park with my children & wished unchilded (new word) adults were not there but when I lived & worked in the middle of Glasgow pre children I used the (many) parks all the time.

Maybe it's written into their charitable charter somehow?

The history is interesting thanks.

I dont think the child unfriendly aspects of London/inner city are true in a park. Childless adults use a park in different ways from those with children so i dont see there being much conflict.
I also think society benefits from mixing the generations. My children often enjoy speaking to the older people sitting by the park & the older people seem to be delighted to speak to children or about children (to me about much missed/loved grandchildren).
Otoh i dream of a dog free park

Child-friendly isn’t the same as child-priority and I like the idea of having one open, public space where children have priority. The central London environment is quite unsuited to small children: traffic, aggressive driving, large scale, busy, noisy, and peopled by adults who aren’t always sympathetic small people underfoot. I suppose there’s also various degrees of anti-social behaviour to consider (drug use, street drinking, aggressive begging).

It’s not any old open space either, it has a particular history which makes more sense of it.

I don’t think it’s a million miles conceptually from having women’s spaces in some ways.

@hipsterfun
Do me a favour, pretty much all of central London primarily serves the needs of adults and you’re stunned and horrified that Coram’s Fields is non-child-accompanying-adult exclusionary?

I dont understand why adults using a park would reduce its value to children. Is there a london reason that makes it make sense? (Really asking, I used to visit london for work & have done tourist type things but I have never lived there.)
All the parks we visit (Scotland) are open to all but we spend far more time in the woods/at the beach

You have all been so helpful thank you
I'm heading for bed....cheers all

Grey, tbh I find her hard work but I wouldn't have said anything more than that really. She's asked me to go on weekends away with her though and I dint because a weekend woukd be too much. She's quite shouty, I'm more mellow.

That's partly why last night upset me....I felt really ragey and shouty and that's rare for me.

If your confused Spring maybe check in with yourself next time you meet up? Are you apprehensive beforehand? How do you feel after?

Grey, yes, I do. I might be being unfair to her....I'm confused.

Hipster, I think everywhere in central London is child friendly

But regardless, to have a whole seven acres of central London, surrounded by businesses, not homes, yes it seems very wrong that adults can't visit.

Do me a favour, pretty much all of central London primarily serves the needs of adults and you’re stunned and horrified that Coram’s Fields is non-child-accompanying-adult exclusionary?

SpringNowPlease2018 ahh it makes sense that this friend would be the type who hates being single from what you've also said about her. Life is to short for friends like that. Hope you have at least a few who are happily single or supportive of your choice.

Waddle, thanks for saying that about Coram Fields, I think it's discrimination but no one agrees. Well you're the first

Grey, thank you.

In terms of escape route, it's when I retire or when my parents pass, they are the only thing keeping me in London. I thought my friends were a factor but we can visit, parents aren't well enough to trek about.

I'm single by choice too, friend of last night hates being single and never believes me that I like it.

Meanwhile....the comments on the Ched Evans thread are so depressing.

thanks pickle it's the do that confused me i think! It's "ye f the f off tae the far side of f" round here

I'm embarrassed now, waddle. It's 'do eff off to the far side of eff'. IYSWIM.

I get the NAMALT thrown at me a lot, it's like the stronger and more independent I am the more I need to be taken down a peg. Also im very happily single which apparently is disturbing for others. (Why?! I like a bed to myself damit.) It's exhausting when you feel as if you can't talk freely or be your full self and would make a reclusive life look all the more appealing. I think distancing yourself from this so called friend is a good idea SpringNowPlease2018 I hope the weather is as nice as it is by me today, I just got back from the park myself, enjoy your walk

@SpringNowPlease2018

I am going to have to start understanding my own needs aren't I?
YES!

Just looked up Coram Fields wow what an amazing resource- I am stunned/horrified that adults cant enjoy it without children. I suppose there must be reasoning behind it but it seems really odd to me - children dont benefit from being kept apart from other people in my opinion. Also really sad that older people in particular wont be able to watch the children play.

10 min mindfulness at your desk? Or a guided relaxation through a bloody park

Maybe you need a longer term get out plan? Different office/working from home some days/move. Sometimes i think knowing the exit is there means we dont hunt for it iyswim

The borderline positive does make sense yes, close to being flattered by the (demeaning, negative) attention. Urrgghh.

@picklemepopcorn
What's Dfottfsof?

Spring I know some find myers-briggs intensely annoying. But I found it really helped me understand a lot about myself in terms of friendships. Of course it's not precise and not everything will fit but doing a bit of reading around was really helpful for me. It really made sense of my interactions. Sorry if it's not your thing - but might get you thinking about this friendship.
16 personalities

A walk will do more for you than personality tests! Enjoy your walk.

I am going to get off my butt and have a nice long walk now
thank you so much for understanding, fabulous MNers