Welcome to the first of a series of comments on the parks world. I thought that a good opening subject would be the Olympic myth that parks, and sport, are the answer to everyone’s health, well-being, family problems and cold sores. Apparently parks can save the planet too.

I’m one of the world’s greatest park supporters and believe that they form a part of many people’s lives, but from a management perspective, the reality is that most or us are still grappling with the basics of pruning properly, cutting the grass often enough, paying staff a decent wage and being respected as an industry. All this is happening, yet ‘representatives’ are focusing on the premise that parks are the panacea for all things great and small.

The cost of continuing poor quality is greater than the cost of doing it right in the first place, yet we continue to ignore the things that lead to poor quality. In the past we have seemed incapable of influencing the power players, so let’s get our industry back up where it deserves by creating first class parks and sports grounds that people respect and admire.

For advice on how to improve the quality of your parks, and to get back to improving the basics, why not contact ISPAL on 0845 603 8734.

Ken McAnespie is managing director of KMC Consultancy