There is much work to do if the government has a chance of meeting its ’15-minute commitment’.
As set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025, one of Labour’s aims is to begin measures that would see everyone in the UK living within a 15-minute walk of ‘natural assets’. That could be a park, woodland, nature reserve, or meadow (green space). Or a lake, river, pond, or stream (blue space).
Now new statistics have been released by Defra showing that 80% of households in England live within the allotted walking distance of a green or blue space. The majority — 76% — have larger neighbourhood standard access, meaning they would be 15 minutes away. In comparison 16% had doorstep access, with nature in the immediate vicinity, and 14% had local access.
Looking across the country, in terms of green spaces unsurprisingly rural areas significantly outperformed urban, although there were some clear differences even within locality type.
Northern cities, for example, had fewer boroughs with less than 39% of households having green space access. Meanwhile, North West London was worse off than East and Central neighbourhoods, although the highest level of access was found in the capital’s westerly areas.
Green space density distribution in England (C) Defra
Green space density distribution in London (C) Defra
Blue spaces were far less commonplace, and locations where access is limited to between 0 and 19% of the population were much more spread out. In particular, the East of England, South East and North East were shown to be lacking.
Blue space density distribution in England (C) Defra
Blue space density distribution in London (C) Defra