Green Action Trust calls for more nature in urban areas

Planting trees and creating nature-friendly spaces on disused land and derelict sites in Scotland’s towns and cities is crucial for improving quality of life and protecting the environment, according to a leading Scottish charity.

The Green Action Trust is calling for governments, businesses, communities and individuals to “pull together” and speed up expansion of eco-friendly infrastructure in urban areas to help Scotland recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, benefit public health and achieve crucial climate goals.

Derek Robertson, the organisation’s chief executive, says: “Facing down the climate emergency in the wake of a global pandemic is a huge challenge, but one that can be met if we achieve the right collaboration.”

The Green Action Trust is a key delivery partner for environmental regeneration in Scotland, and it is backed by the Scottish Government.

The charity collaborates with all sectors with the aim of delivering enhanced “blue-green networks”, and natural infrastructure across the country’s urban and rural areas.

The team is specifically responsible for the Central Scotland Green Network Plan, the largest infrastructure project of its kind in Europe.

Last month, the charity launched a new strategic relationship with Scotland’s Towns Partnership, with the ambition of delivering

environmental transformation across urban spaces.

Robertson believes that greening streets and built-up areas is a “win-win” move. He explains: “It’s often thought that environmental regeneration is an issue confined outside of urban areas. However, there is huge potential in Scotland’s towns and cities to improve quality of life for communities whilst also combating climate change.

“Covid-19 has undoubtedly been a hugely challenging time for Scotland’s towns and communities, but it has also re-focused people’s minds on the spaces around them, as they have adapted to new working and living patterns through the pandemic.

“Access to green space is no longer a luxury that is taken for granted.

“By drawing together the public, private and community sectors we can bring vacant and derelict land back into public use, build active travel networks, develop community greenspaces and allotments, and deliver blue and green infrastructure, such as parks, street trees, green roofs and walls, and sustainable drainage solutions that create new water bodies and wetlands.

“These are win-win solutions – creating spaces that make Scotland a better place to live and work, promoting health and well-being outcomes, and also accelerating progress towards net-zero targets and increasing resilience to a changing climate.”