Invest in our green spaces to give us all a brighter future

BRITAIN invented the public park. From the Royal Parks of London to Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, they have served as places to relax and unwind since the 19th century. As our towns and cities grew during the Industrial Revolution, so did the role of parks.

- Eilish McGuinness

Our idea that access to nature enhances wellbeing was shared across the world; to Europe, the US, India and beyond. Parks are not just patches of grass. They are the beating hearts of our towns and cities. They are places where toddlers take their first steps, teenagers find space and older people find companionship and calm.

Parks also cool our streets during heatwaves; soak up floodwater; clean our air. And as the UK experiences hotter summer temperatures, these green spaces have increasingly become an essential sanctuary to escape the heat and take refuge in nature. Research shows the restoration and funding of local parks is deeply valued by communities. But parks rarely receive the recognition afforded to historic buildings.

In recent years, we’ve seen a steady decline of public funding for parks, as local authorities face budget cuts.

THIS has led to a lack of maintenance of public buildings, a loss of cafes and toilets and a decline in the horticulture of the gardens themselves. And this is at a time when the population of the UK is increasingly urbanised with 80% of people almost 58 million living in towns and cities. Half of Britons alone live in the 11 largest city regions.