Health & Beauty
‘An epidemic of climate anxiety’
Young people’s climate anxiety is soaring due to lack of access to green space, says Woodland Trust.
21 March 2023
Main image: Mayfield Park, near Manchester Piccadilly station. Credit: Richard Bloom
A record number of parks and green spaces across the UK have reached the high standards required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award in 2024, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy revealed today (16 July).
2,227 parks and green spaces have achieved the Green Flag Award – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces – with successful submissions from local authorities and other land managers across the country for a range of sites, from world-famous city parks to small, local green spaces.
Four parks that received their first Green Flag Award when the scheme was launched 28 years ago have flown it every year since.
The parks are:
These parks are joined by parks and green spaces as diverse as:
‘Prioritising parks and green spaces is vital for our future, so we are delighted to see that 2,227 sites have met the standards required for a Green Flag Award, reflecting the tireless work of those tasked with looking after these important national assets.
‘We know beyond doubt that our local environment contributes to the wellbeing of individuals and communities, with our parks and green spaces recognised as areas where people can come together and be active. Research shows that time spent in green spaces can positively affect mental and physical health, quality of life and a sense of wellbeing.
‘We believe the standards expected in the Green Flag Award should be a minimum for every park, and it is our ambition that by 2030 we increase the number of sites achieving Green Flag Award status even further so that people across the world, wherever they live, can access and enjoy safe, high-quality green space.’
ALLISON OGDEN-NEWTON OBE
Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive
130 of the winners have received a Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of historic features, supported in England by Historic England.
These include:
To achieve Green Heritage Site Accreditation, winners have to understand and take action to conserve the heritage value of their site.
They also need to help people to understand and enjoy its unique history, from nationally important parks to local green spaces that help tell the story of places and communities.
Several quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups were given a Green Flag Community Award, including:
Parks are a vitally important part of this country’s green infrastructure, providing opportunities to improve physical and mental health even in the most built-up urban environments.
However, research by Leeds University has shown that women are currently less likely to use our parks and green spaces due to a range of factors including safety fears.
The Green Flag Award standard rewards those sites that meet the needs of the community, are well maintained, safe and provide people with the opportunity to lead healthy lifestyles.
‘Historic parks, gardens, canals and other green heritage sites are at the heart of the network of public open spaces that are critical to our health and wellbeing, nature and the environment. The Green Flag Awards recognise the fantastic effort made and high standards achieved by parks professionals, community groups, volunteers and others across the country who look after these important places.
‘At Historic England we are very pleased to support Green Heritage Site Accreditation in England, celebrating the achievements of Green Flag Award winners who care for, share and celebrate the heritage of their sites.’ERIKA DIAZ PETERSEN
Historic England’s principal National Landscape adviser
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Young people’s climate anxiety is soaring due to lack of access to green space, says Woodland Trust.
Local Green Space designations increase but deprived communities remain under-served, CPRE report reveals.
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