A Nation of Park Lovers: Review of Report by CABE

The results are in: our urban centres are full of a vast number of public parks, and we love them. We particularly love them if they are in good condition because they make us happy.

Urban Green Nation is a report recently published by CABE - the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. The objective was to effectively audit the green spaces in our urban areas, gathering information of how many parks there are, where are they, who owns them, who uses them, and what condition are they in. The report is the first review of its kind, investigating over 70 major data sources and an inventory of more than 16,000 individual green spaces. It sets out the evidence relating to the quantity, quality, use, accessibility, management and maintenance and value of public urban green space.

Here's a few of the key facts from the report:

1. -Parks and open spaces were the most frequently used service of all the public services tracked as part of the Place Survey, with respondents reporting higher use of parks than the other cultural and leisure services such as sport facilities, galleries and libraries.
   

2. -In urban areas, 87 per cent of the population have used their local urban park or open space in the last year, and 79 per cent have used it in the last six months.
   

3. -In 2007, 91 per cent of people thought it was very/fairly important to have green spaces near to where they live, and by 2009 this had risen to 95 per cent.
   

4. -In England 80 per cent of people are very or fairly satisfied with their local area as a place to live. This falls to around 50 per cent in deprived areas.
   

5. -The most affluent 20 per cent of wards have five times the amount of parks or general green space (excluding gardens) per person than the most deprived 10 per cent of wards.
   

Haycock have long been involved in the management of parks and open spaces, and we have a strong understanding of the power and importance that they have. The CABE report is excellent news as it helps to highlight the need for further funding and investment into existing green spaces, and also indicates that in many deprived areas there is a requirement for more provision.

Previous work by Haycock has highlighted the genuine economic and social benefits that can be gained from investment into public open spaces. Over ten years we worked on behalf of the National Trust, designing and building Europe's largest river restoration on Sinderland Brook, Altrincham, near Manchester. The Brook forms the centre piece to a large area of open space between new and existing housing estates. Due to the investment into this landscape the house values in the area, and particularly those closest to the parkland, have significantly gained value. It provides and open space that is attractive, calming and interesting, compared to the barren wasteland that existed prior to the restoration. A similar project has been designed by Haycock for Leighton Brook Park in Crewe, Cheshire. The existing park is run down and in need to considerable change in order to make the visitors and locals feel comfortable and able to engage with the green space. There is little sense of pride in this park, with high rates of vandalism, littering and fly-tipping. It is expected that the restoration of the brook will transform the appearance and atmosphere of this centralised green space, renewing pride in the area.

Haycock continue to play a strong and influential role in park management for some of the Nation's most important green space managers. We are currently the retained soil and water advisors for the City of London's Hampstead Heath, where we play an active role in the long term management of its water assets.

We hope that the Urban Green Nation report will bring to attention the importance of our urban parks, showing that investment in their management is of vital importance to the well-being of so many people.