Access to Green Spaces

The Government is taking numerous steps to increase access to Green Spaces.

The Government is launching a partnership to help deliver the biggest nature recovery project in England’s history. The Nature Recovery Network Delivery Partnership, led by Natural England, will bring together representatives from over 600 organisations to drive forward the restoration of protected sites and landscapes and help provide at least 500,000 hectares of new wildlife-rich habitat across England. The Network will link together nature rich places, restore landscapes in towns and the countryside and create new habitats for everybody to enjoy. For further information on the Nature Recovery Network Delivery Partnership please see the link. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-recovery-network/nature-recovery-network

Parks and green spaces provide vibrant and inclusive locations for communities to socialise, volunteer, work and exercise. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is aiming to explore how it can best support all urban parks and green spaces.

DEFRA is responsible for accessibility to green spaces and the 25 Year Environment Plan sets out the Government’s comprehensive and long-term approach to protecting and enhancing our natural landscapes in England for the next generation, and to help people improve their health and wellbeing by using green spaces.

The Government recognises that high quality multi-use local green spaces can play a key role as sporting venues and as alternative settings for sports and healthy activity. Sport England published its new strategy Uniting the Movement which sets out their 10 year vision to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity. A key part of the strategy is creating and protecting the local places and spaces that make it easier for people to be active including encouraging walking and cycling.

Last year, Public Health England published Improving Access to Greenspace, highlighting that regular physical activity supports both individual and community outcomes such as increasing educational attainment, improving self-esteem and reducing social isolation.

The Government remains committed to working towards restoring nature and making sure that green spaces are accessible for everyone.

Protecting the environment for future generations is important and that is why this is one of the My Plan priorities I have set out for constituents.