So, what's the big idea?

What exactly is Parks and Pavements all about? Where did the idea come from, and what is it going to show me?.

Over the years I've had a few goes at creating and managing my own website - from a simple HTML blog and gallery about my old Mini, to an online t-shirt store, and a site which focused on cycle routes around my local area. None of them lasted more than a few years, and never drew much (if any) attention from the wider world. The biggest hurdles seemed to be the time it took to conceive and produce content, and my own lack of vision and direction, which inevitably led to boredom and a stalled project.

More recently I've held jobs that have taught me much about how websites work, and how they can be optimized by using SEO techniques, by creating interesting content (including audio and video), and by using social media to promote and engage with readers. In short, although I now have parental responsibilities and a lot less time to myself than before I feel that my skills have improved greatly, and I'm in a better place to try again.

So, what's the big idea this time? As a keen runner for the last 8 years, Parks and Pavements is intended to be a personal blog which records my journeys around the London Borough of Havering - exploring each of the area's parks and open spaces on two feet. My aim is to highlight the area's natural beauty, and to identify some of the lesser-known paths and green spaces which are often connected and serve as fantastic running environments.