Green Escapes in Dudley: Parks and Natural Spaces to Enjoy
When Boris Johnson rode out across London last week, reportedly cycling seven miles from his home, he drew some criticism for not following the spirit of the lockdown rules (despite not actually breaking any). While there is much to criticise when it comes to Johnson's handling of the pandemic, on this occasion we should exercise caution before jumping to condemn long bike rides. With green, open, public spaces now one of the few places that we can visit outdoors, it's time to look at why some of us have to travel to get safe access to green space.
We've done some analysis of Natural England's new People and Nature survey, and found that 42% of British people believe that visiting local green and natural spaces like parks and beaches has become even more important to their wellbeing since the pandemic began. The same analysis shows that around 40% of the population are concerned about overcrowding and not being able to keep their distance from others. Additionally, around one in eight people (12.5%) don't believe that their local green space is of a high enough standard to want to spend time in. This means that travelling seven miles may be the only way for some people to get safe access to good quality green space, which is vital to their mental and physical wellbeing.
Historical Context and Evolution
- Engagement with green space during the pandemic has not been uniform across regions and demographic groups.
- During the peak of the first wave, the number of people visiting green spaces in poorer areas dropped more than in wealthier areas.
- Green spaces' quality, size, and proximity to residents' homes differ between poorer and wealthier areas.
- People on lower incomes report greater dissatisfaction with the quality of their green space.
Figure 1: People with lower incomes are more likely to report dissatisfaction with the quality of their green space.
| Region | Dissatisfaction with Green Space Provision | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North-east | High |
| 2 | West Midlands | High |
| 3 | East | Moderate |
| 4 | South-east | Moderate |
Figure 2: The West Midlands and north-east show greater levels of dissatisfaction with the quality of green space provision than the east and south-east.
Analytical Insights
To understand barriers to green space access in local neighborhoods, we worked with West Midlands Combined Authority to take a precise look at the phenomenon of green deprivation. Using a composite scale that links the Index of Multiple Deprivation to data on green space provision from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), we developed a useful method for mapping green space deprivation at the local level.
Figure 3: Many areas of the West Midlands Combined Authority are in the 20% of UK areas worst affected by 'green deprivation', notably, inner city areas of Birmingham and Coventry, and parts of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
A composite index of the Index of Multiple Deprivation and the provision of green space (m2 per person) at the Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) level. Areas are ranked nationally and broken down into highest levels (1st-20th percentiles), moderate levels (21st-80th percentiles), and lowest levels (81st-100th percentiles) of green deprivation.
Future Outlook
Tackling green deprivation is not a one-size-fits-all job; it requires a detailed understanding of place. Perceptions of green space provision vary between regions. The north-east and West Midlands have somewhat worse provision than other English regions. London also does badly on some metrics. However, even looking at the regional level is still far too broad to understand barriers to green space access in local neighborhoods.
We hope that our analysis will support West Midlands Combined Authority, along with their constituent local authorities, to take action on alleviating green deprivation with targeted programs in the right areas. However, they still face significant barriers, not least a lack of funding. A significant fiscal stimulus dedicating at least £2bn new investment to green infrastructure projects, some of which should expand green space provision, would be a good starting point.
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