Home / Environment / Nearly Half of England Lacks Green Space Access
Nearly Half of England Lacks Green Space Access
17 Sep
Summary
- 44% of English constituencies lack easy nature access.
- Economic deprivation mirrors nature access inequality.
- Wildlife Trusts urge faster action on green manifesto promises.
New analysis reveals that nearly half of England's parliamentary constituencies lack adequate access to nature, with 44% having significant portions of properties more than a 15-minute walk from green or blue spaces. This deficiency is particularly pronounced in the ten most economically deprived constituencies. The Wildlife Trusts are advocating for a faster implementation of Labour's manifesto commitments to improve biodiversity and access to natural environments.
The charity emphasizes the critical need for cool, shaded, and nature-rich spaces, especially following recent extreme heatwaves across England. They are urging ministers to expedite their access to nature green paper and propose several key actions. These include making land purchase more affordable for local authorities, establishing a community right to buy land for nature, and treating nature as essential infrastructure requiring dedicated capital funds for maintenance.
Research also highlights the profound impact of nature on public health, with citizens seeking out natural spaces for physical and mental well-being, particularly during heatwaves. Experts stress that accessible natural spaces in urban areas can lower temperatures, improve air quality, and reduce strain on health systems. Despite growing evidence, access to nature remains unequal across the UK, prompting calls for urgent, decisive action to ensure this access is a right for all citizens.
