Judi Dench Fights to Save London’s 50 At-Risk Parks

In January and February 2026, legendary actress Dame Judi Dench emerged as a key voice in an urgent campaign to safeguard London’s urban nature. Backing the environmental charity CPRE London (Campaign to Protect Rural England), the 91-year-old Oscar winner warned that it is "more important than ever" to protect the city’s parks and green belt land from private developers and commercialization.

The campaign was launched following a sobering report titled "Cashing-in on London’s Parks and Countryside," which identified more than 50 parks, playing fields, and nature reserves across the capital that are currently under threat.

The Fight for Whitewebbs Park

The centerpiece of Dench’s advocacy is the battle over Whitewebbs Park in Enfield. The local council recently agreed to lease part of the historic public park to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club for a private training academy—a move Dench has publicly condemned.

• The Loss of Trees: Dench, a well-known lover of trees who famously "communicates" with them in her own garden, highlighted that Spurs’ development plans involve felling 207 trees, including veteran and mature specimens.

• Public Land Theft: In her statement, Dench pointed out a "staggering" statistic: 10% of public land in Britain has been lost since 1979. She criticized the "brutal butchering" of a 450-year-old oak tree at the site and argued against turning public land over for "elite private use."

• Legal Action: Dench is a formal supporter of the Guardians of Whitewebbs, a local group that has initiated a judicial review to challenge the council’s leasing decision.

London’s "At-Risk" List

The CPRE report highlights that at least nine parks, eight playing fields, and eight nature reserves are facing immediate danger. The hardest-hit boroughs identified in 2026 are Bromley, Greenwich, and Havering.

The "Grey Belt" Controversy

The campaign also takes aim at a controversial new government planning policy known as the "Grey Belt." Environmentalists, including Dench, argue that this policy allows developers to reclassify protected "Green Belt" land as "Grey Belt" (land deemed lower-quality or "neglected") to bypass conservation laws. Campaigners argue that much of this land is actually vital for biodiversity and community mental health, and should be restored rather than built upon.

Why It Matters to Dench

Dame Judi’s connection to nature is deeply personal. In her 2025 memoir and several documentaries, she has shared that she plants a "memorial tree" for every close friend or family member she loses. "I think of my trees as part of my extended family," she stated during the campaign. "It is something living that goes on... we must protect our parks before it’s too late."

Source - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/21/judi-dench-backs-campaign-protect-london-green-spaces-from-developers

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