A photographer’s love letter to London’s green spaces
- Text by Huck
- Photography by Sophia Spring
![A photographer’s love letter to London’s green spaces](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/SHOREDITCH-PARK-N1-ELEANOR-ANNA-PRECIOUS_2023-03-27-140559_kcpo.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Lockdown changed many Londoner’s relationship with the outdoors. Following restrictions in March 2020 that saw the UK closing non-essential retail and hospitality, and limiting people to leaving the house once a day for essential reasons, parks became a vital place of solace and restoration for millions of city dwellers. Even with lockdown easing, our heightened appreciation for local parks and green spaces shows no signs of going away soon.
For photographer Sophia Spring, lockdown provided an opportunity to embark on a project documenting people in their local park, which she’d been considering before the pandemic. “I just hadn’t had the time to do it, so I put it on the back burner,” she explains. “But then, obviously [because of Covid-19], my work evaporated overnight, and it turned out to be the perfect time to do the project because nobody had anything to do but go to the park.”
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/VICTORIA-PARK-E9-CLARRY.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Clarry, Victoria Park
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MILE-END-PARK-E3-BEN-GABRIEL.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Ben and Gabriel, Mile End Park
It provided Spring with what felt like much-needed structure to her day and the chance to interact with people during a time of isolation. These photos are now collected in a book, titled Parklife (Hoxton Mini Press) which captures everything from the city’s great expanses of heath and woodland to meandering rivers and small corners of grass. The parks included in the book are democratic spaces, filled with visitors that pay testament to the diversity of London.
“When everything else was removed from our lives – pubs and restaurant – people were forced to take a look at what was on their doorsteps,” continues Spring. Particularly for people on furlough with more time on their hands, or those without a garden, green spaces were, as Spring puts it, “a salvation”.
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/HACKNEY-MARSHES-E9-DANIELLA-IYANA.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Daniella and Iyana, Hackney Marshes
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/HACKNEY-MARSHES-E9-JENNIFER-SOPHIE-MARIE-DIANA-1.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Jennifer, Sophie-Marie and Diana, Hackney Marshes
“I think we were all suffering from a collective depression and anxiety at the beginning of lockdown, so we went into nature to seek solace,” says Springfield, reflecting on the mental health benefits offered by green spaces. Across multiple studies, researchers have found a links between access to green space, such as fields, forests, parks and gardens, and a reduced risk of mental health problems, improved mood, and increased life satisfaction. For people living in urban environments, the importance of access to green space is arguably even greater.
“I hope the photos act as a record of a really unique time,” reflects Spring. “[The book] is a lover letter to London’s green spaces, and I just want people to see what’s on their doorstep and to appreciate it.”
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/HACKNEY-DOWNS-E5-FLORA-CHLOE.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Flora and Chloe, Hackney Downs
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/BROCKWELL-PARK-SE24-MYLES.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Myles, Brockwell Park
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ABNEY-PARK-N16-SUMAIYAH-SARAH.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Samaiyah and Sarah, Abney Park
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/HACKNEY-MARSHES-E9-JADE-JANAE-JERMAINEjpg.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Jade, Janae and Jermaine, Hackney Marshes
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/BUNNY-PARK-W7-SAVANNAH-SURAYAH.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Savannah and Surayah, Bunny Park
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TOTTENHAM-MARSHES-N17-AHMED-AISA.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Ahmed and Aisa, Tottenham Marshes
![](https://images.huckmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/THE-RIVER-LEA-E9-4-1.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
River Lea
Parklife is available now on Hoxton Mini Press.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
![Is skateboarding really a subculture anymore?](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/Huck81_Socials_HeroImage_SkateboardingIsNotASubculture_240618_V2-1.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Is skateboarding really a subculture anymore?
With skate’s inclusion in the Olympics, Kyle Beachy asks what it means for the culture around the sport, and whether it’s possible to institutionalise an artform.
Written by: Kyle Beachy
![Autism cannot be cured — stop trying](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/shutterstock_2322534063.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Autism cannot be cured — stop trying
A questionable study into the ‘reversal’ of autism does nothing but reinforce damaging stereotypes and harm, argues autistic author Jodie Hare.
Written by: Jodie Hare
![Bristol Photo Festival returns for second edition](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/Hashem-Shakeri-from-the-series-_Staring-into-the-Abyss_.-%C2%A9-Hashem-Shakeri.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Bristol Photo Festival returns for second edition
After the success of it’s inaugural run, the festival returns this autumn with exhibitions, education and community programmes exploring a world in constant motion through still image.
Written by: Ben Smoke
![Documenting the life of a New York gang leader paralysed by gun violence](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/web-Eyanna-has-always-been-Maliks-primary-caregiver.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Documenting the life of a New York gang leader paralysed by gun violence
New photobook ‘Say Less’ is a complex yet humanising look into a life wrecked by gun violence and organised crime.
Written by: Isaac Muk
![The woman who defined 80s Hip Hop photography](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/7_ULTRAMAGNETIC-MCS_NYC-1990.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
The woman who defined 80s Hip Hop photography
A new exhibition brings together Janette Beckman’s visionary and boundary pushing images of an era of cultural change and moral panic.
Written by: Miss Rosen
![In photos: the dogs of Dogtown](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/saguy_dogtown_02_RGB.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
In photos: the dogs of Dogtown
A new photobook documents Venice Beach’s four legged friends and their colourful cast of owners.
Written by: Isaac Muk