The Natural Choice
(Date of issue: Monday, 13 June 2011)
Carlisle City Council residents benefit from urban green spaces,
according to ‘The Natural Choice’ – the Government’s White Paper on
the natural environment, published last week (7 June).
‘The Natural Choice’ builds upon the findings of the ground
breaking ‘National Ecosystem Assessment’ published last week, that
highlights the economic benefits of urban green space,
including:
- Living within a view of green space is worth up to £300 per
person, per year.
- Nationally, urban outdoor spaces are worth £2.3 billion per
year.
- Maintaining the UK’s green spaces would deliver £30 billion in
health and welfare benefits each year.
- However, failing to do so would cost £20 billion each
year.
Importantly, ‘The Natural Choice’ states that ‘protected natural
areas can yield returns many times higher than the cost of their
protection’ and goes on to detail actions that everyone can take to
conserve and enhance the natural environment. Major proposals
include:
- Creating a new ‘Green Areas Designation’ to allow local
communities to give protection to areas that are important to them
for recreation, the view or because of their importance for
wildlife.
- Better urban green spaces for the benefit of cities and towns,
including support for parks, gardens, and tree planting.
- More children experiencing nature by learning outdoors, through
practical support to schools and reducing red-tape for outdoor
learning.
- Strengthening local public health activities which connect
people with nature for better health.
- New environmental volunteering initiative “Muck in 4 Life” to
improve places in towns and countryside for people and nature to
enjoy.
- Continued support for the ‘Green Flag Award’® scheme in
promoting quality green spaces.
- Support the development of ‘green infrastructure’ in England,
to consider how green infrastructure can be enhanced to strengthen
ecological networks and improve communities’ health, quality of
life and resilience to climate change.
Councillor Ray Bloxham, Portfolio Holder for Environment and
Housing, said
‘Carlisle’s parks and green spaces bring lots of benefits for
residents and the City Council is proud of our seven Green Flag
awards, which reflect the high standards we set ourselves. Keen to
do more, and very much within the spirit of the new approaches set
out in ‘The Natural Choice’, we are currently working with many
interested organisations to develop a ‘Green Infrastructure
Strategy’ to secure and maximise more benefits into the
future.’
Please see this link for more information - http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/