The Royal Parks charity has moved to shut down an “Optimism Picnic” planned for Hyde Park by Joe Reeve, co-founder of economic campaign group Looking For Growth.
Reeve had promoted the event publicly on X, stating that more than 1,000 “optimists” had registered to attend the gathering.
The intervention came after an X user complained about what they described as a “large and dangerous unofficial event” planned for the park.
The user wrote: “I was planning a quiet day out at Hyde Park with my two young children and this large and dangerous unofficial event is very concerning.”
They also asked: “Will your usually excellent rangers/police be on patrol to move on such gatherings?”
The official Royal Parks account responded directly, stating that the event organiser had been contacted and informed that no permission had been granted for the event.
The Royal Parks said the organiser had been told to “make alternative arrangements for their event and cease public advertising that implies it will take place in the Royal Parks.”
The charity confirmed to City AM that any event organiser must submit an application six weeks ahead of the event to ensure it is assessed in line with park regulations.
“In this case, the organisers did not approach The Royal Parks to apply for an event license and the event was unauthorised,” the charity said.
Reeve said he had been “blown away by the positive response” since sharing his intention to gather optimists, noting that young Brits still believe in Britain’s future despite widespread “doom and gloom.”
He added: “I’ve responded to The Royal Parks directly, and am optimistic(!) that we’ll be able to find a way to accommodate the young people and families who stand for optimism and positivity.”
Supporter Shiv Malik criticised the parks authority’s response, calling it “another shot in the war on fun.”
Malik said: “Millions of young people say they are lonely. You try and hold an optimist picnic and there’s an instant crack-down.”
Reeve had commissioned a special “Optimism Picnic Blanket” featuring aspirational snacks including Whitstable oysters and Kent strawberries, with the event billed as “Britain’s largest optimistic picnic of a generation.”
The planned event was set to include a sports day and an ultimate frisbee competition, with volunteers arranged for both activities and litter picking at the close of the day.
Hyde Park spans 350 acres and stretches a mile and a half in length, though it remains unclear whether the event will go ahead in any form.