Number of people using parks in South Yorkshire soars

People have flocked to parks and other open spaces across Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley after the limit on outdoor exercise was scrapped last month.

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Data from Google shows the number of people using parks in South Yorkshire was up six per cent during the week ending June 6, compared with pre-lockdown levels, despite falling by 17 per cent across the UK.

The figure is down from May, when at times the number of people using the region’s parks was nearly double that seen before lockdown.

The data is taken from Google’s latest COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports, which use mobile phone data to look at how people’s movements have changed during the pandemic.

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The surge in visitors to South Yorkshire’s parks has not been without its problems, leading to concerns about social distancing not being observed and piles of litter being left.

Google’s latest report showed that retail and recreation visits in the region were down by 68 per cent, though this is likely to change when non-essential retailers are allowed to reopen from Monday, June 15.

Supermarket and pharmacy visits fell by 18 per cent, public transport usage was down 54 per cent, time spent in the workplace fell by 31 per cent and time spent at home increased by 13 per cent.

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Google’s latest figures for South Yorkshire are markedly different from April, when people were spending 55 per cent less time in the workplace and park usage was 27 per cent lower than usual.