Lord Mayor gets on his bike for visit to Hampstead Heath

29 August 2012

​The Lord Mayor and Jeremy Simons at Hampstead Heath

David Wootton, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, visited Hampstead Heath yesterday (28 August) – and showcased his cycling skills by jumping on a bike donated to his charitable appeal by Team GB superstar Victoria Pendleton last week.

The Lord Mayor - who was accompanied by Lady Mayoress Liz Wootton and Sheriff Wendy Mead - was welcomed at Golders Hill by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Hampstead Heath Committee, Jeremy Simons and Michael Welbank. Superintendent Simon Lee and other Heath staff were also on hand to show him around sites including the Walled Garden, Butterfly House, Hill Garden Pergola and Golders Hill Zoo.

During the visit, Lord Mayor Wootton and Chairman Simons gave a test ride to the two specially customised bikes donated by two-time Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton when she was on the Heath last week for a photo shoot. They will be auctioned to raise money for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, Fit for the Future, which has as one of its key aims to improve the health and fitness of local communities. 

The City of London Corporation has also backed this aim through a separate campaign, Green to Gold, which has encouraged, engaged and inspired communities to use green spaces for positive recreation to enhance health and well-being.  A series of events have been held across London, throughout 2012, across all the Open Spaces that the City of London looks after.

Lord Mayor David Wootton said:

“Hampstead Heath is a national treasure that brings together communities from across London and beyond in a natural oasis located in the heart of the capital. I was delighted to witness first-hand the fantastic work being done to maintain the Heath, and also to meet some of its weird and wonderful inhabitants - including my personal favourite the lemurs. And thankfully the team here even managed to organise some sunshine!

"We are extremely grateful to Victoria for her generous donation to my Fit for the Future charitable appeal. I hope the bikes find a good home- and if the owner decides to venture out on to the Heath he or she follows the designated cycle routes."

The Lord Mayor was presented with the new Hampstead Heath 2013 Calendar to cap off his visit, which features stunning photographs of views, landscapes and habitats throughout the seasons.

For more information on Green to Gold click here, or to learn more about the Lord Mayor’s Appeal visit here.

(More photos available upon request)

Ends

Notes to editors

1. Media enquiries
   Sanjay Odedra, Senior Media Officer, City of London Corporation
   T 020 7332 1835 / Mobile: 07831 542 856
   E sanjay.odedra@cityoflondon.gov.uk
2. About the City of London Corporation
   The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation. It supports and promotes the City as the world leader in international finance and business services and provides local services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan Archive; education (including three independent schools and sponsor of three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and the City of London Corporation’s charity, the City Bridge Trust, makes grants of more than £15 million annually to charitable projects in London.
3. About Hampstead Heath
   Hampstead Heath is the collective name for Parliament Hill and Golders Hill, a total of 791 acres (320 hectares). The Heath is situated just four miles from the centre of London and falls within two London Boroughs, Camden and Barnet. The City of London Corporation has managed all of Hampstead Heath, apart from the Kenwood area, since 1989, and has a long established policy of protecting open spaces in and around London for the enjoyment of the public, at no cost to the local ratepayer.