New statistics reveal need to create more accessible green spaces in England
The People’s Health Trust today called on the Government and local authorities to increase their efforts to make green and natural spaces available to everyone.
The call follows the publication of the latest Natural England Adults' People and Nature Survey. The report found just under a quarter of people surveyed in England (22%) have not visited a green and natural space in the last 14 days, and 19% of people said they were not within easy walking distance of a local green space.
In addition, bad health was the biggest barrier to visiting green spaces when focusing on visit frequency broken down by demographic variables (including health, age, deprivation, ethnicity, gender, urban/rural).
Some groups were more likely to report that they do not have local green spaces within easy walking distance, including younger adults and people living in an urban or deprived location. Over one in ten adults who reported having bad health answered that they never visited a green space in the last year (12%). Yet nine in 10 people who had accessed green spaces in the previous fortnight agreed it was good for their physical and mental health.
“Access to green space can be the dividing line between good health and early death.
“Too often, those experiencing the worst health outcomes and shorter life expectancy are also those who are shut out from nature, green and blue spaces and their benefits. The Trust has seen first-hand how communities who have greater access to quality natural spaces are stronger, happier and crucially healthier but a significant and unjust gap in access remains.
“If we want a healthier society, we must do better to ensure that green space and nature are available to everyone.”
Max Rutherford
Deputy CEO, People's Health Trust
The People’s Health Trust is a national charity that works with local communities to stop people dying too young, and help them live longer, healthier lives. Its Nature for Health programme is currently demonstrating the mental health benefits of access to natural spaces in 15 communities across Great Britain.
The Natural England Adults’ People and Nature Survey gathers information on people’s experiences and views about the natural environment, and its contributions to our health and wellbeing.