A walk in the park? It’s never been more important

It has already been confirmed by the National Trust and other open space providers that visits to gardens, parks and green space amenities that are near home/cheap or free to enter/beautiful and uplifting are experiencing a surge. This is no surprise, given the pressures that so many people are faced with this year. What is equally not surprising, but something that we must resist strenuously is the murmurings that green space budget cuts are coming. The fight exploded in the US in mid-February when Republican senators attempted to amend the economic stimulus package so that community parks would be prohibited from receiving any funding. In the UK too there are concerns that parks will be a soft target for accountants’ red pens.

Our response must be to present what green space brings to society – that it is indispensable. We’d like to highlight some stories we’ve presented recently that amply support the claim that people must have parks.

• Valuation – Philadelphia
• Health benefits – vitamin G, plants for people
• Social cohesion/community revitalisation – Millinxburt, Rotterdam; Manor Estate, Sheffield
• Play - Children’s development: De Speeldernis, Rotterdam
• Ecotherapy - Mind’s green space agenda for mental health
• Regeneration of former industrial areas – Ruhr Emsher Park

In addition there are some hugely important initiatives taking place this year that highlight the links between food, health, the environment and human well being and deserve continued support. These include:

• The Big Lunch
An Eden Project initiated scheme to get communities right across the country to sit down to lunch together on Sunday July 19th to eat meals prepared from home-grown produce. Backed by government, B & Q, Royal Mail Group, EDF Energy and Mastercard, the event aims to foster community pride, social cohesion and be a catalyst to happiness and well-being.

• Capital Growth
Backed by the London Development Agency, the Mayor of London, the Big Lottery Fund and many other organisations, this initiative aims to help Londoners grow some of their own food in a range of spaces from balconies and roof gardens to neglected public spaces. Its target is to have 2012 new spaces by 2012.

• National Trust/Landshare initiative to make 1000 more allotment spaces
available – sufficient space to grow fruit and veg to the value of £1.5 million.