City falls short when it comes to green spaces
CARDIFF is among the areas in the UK with the lowest access to green space, according to new data. A new free database and interactive map plots all publicly accessible parks, gardens, playing fields, golf courses and allotments.
Ahead of the public release of the data today, cities have been rated for their access to green space.
The Welsh capital’s 391 spaces include 49 playing fields, 47 public parks or gardens and 98 “play spaces”.
That means just 8.04% of its area is publicly accessible green space.
Birmingham topped the table with its 1,070 parks, making up 15.6% of its area defined as accessible open space.
Cardiff fared better than Bristol, which has just 6.8% of its area which is accessible open space, as well as Leeds (6.6%) and Plymouth (5.4%) – the cities with the lowest levels.
But it fell well short of Glasgow, which despite being one of Scotland’s industrial heartlands, was shown to be one of the UK’s greenest urban areas, with 13.5% accessible green space. Birmingham: 15.58% Nottingham: 15.34% Glasgow: 13.49% Manchester: 13.13% Liverpool: 12.79% Southampton: 10.66% Newcastle upon Tyne: 10.62% Brighton and Hove: 9.87% Salford: 9.52% Edinburgh: 9.26% Coventry: 8.81% Cambridge: 8.12% Aberdeen: 8.09% Cardiff: 8.04% Sunderland: 8.04% Bristol: 6.76% Leeds: 6.57% Plymouth: 5.39%
Despite a number of city-centre parks and green spaces, there has been concerns that Cardiff’s green space is in decline.
Cardiff Bay residents have recently launched a campaign to oppose the creation of the new Dolffin Quay development, saying it would result in the loss of the last green space in the Bay area.
As part of the scheme, the Ordnance Survey (OS) will release data for other Welsh areas today, so people can make comparisons.
The Greenspace scheme is a UK Government initiative to make it easier for people to locate and access green areas.
OS chief executive Nigel Clifford said: “Geospatial data can transform governments, businesses and communities for the better. I am excited to see how people experiment and work with the data.”
UK Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson said: “Green spaces are a vital part of our landscape and this new database and online map will make it easier for people across the country to access green spaces and lead healthier lives. With the completion of this mapping project, we have delivered on an important commitment and shown yet again how innovation can improve everyday lives.”
The scheme has been running in Scotland since 2011.
Kevin Stewart, Scotland’s Minister for Local Government and Housing, said: “Evidence shows that improving access to local green space benefits physical health, mental wellbeing and provides social opportunities.
“The Greenspace Map helps identify where there is a lack of open space so local authorities, public sector partners and community groups can develop plans to develop and improve these areas within local neighbourhoods.”