Too many people are stuck without access to nature

In a joint blog, Matt Browne of The Wildlife Trusts and Elliot Chapman-Jones of Liberal & Democrats for Nature & Climate publish new data analysis laying bare England’s lack of access to nature.

Time in nature is a proven health tonic; people who live close to accessible green and blue spaces live healthier, happier and longer lives. Successive Governments have committed to spread these health benefits across the country, through a promise to ensure that everyone has access to green or blue spaces within a 15-minute walk from home.

New data analysis by The Wildlife Trusts and Liberals & Democrats for Nature & Climate shows there is still a long way to go to deliver on this promise. After assessing Defra data and applying it to Westminster boundaries, we can reveal that 238 parliamentary constituencies in England (44% of the total) still have low access to nature. We have defined low access to nature as 20% or more of properties in the constituency being more than 15 minutes’ walk away from accessible green or blue spaces.

Such a proportion of places stuck without access to nature should be a major political concern. Sadly, it simply isn’t being treated as such. Over the past six months, despite 4 in 10 English MPs representing constituencies with low of levels of accessible nature, access to nature has been raised in Commons debates just three times. The Government had promised to bring forward an access to nature green paper, but there is no sign of its publication, or even of its active development within Defra.

Paul Harris/2020VISION

Two people sat on a bench in an urban park, talking

People in an urban park © Shutterstock / Wei Huang

A closer dive into the numbers highlights why Defra should stop prevaricating, and act. Our data analysis shows a strong relationship between nature deprivation and economic deprivation. Seven of the ten most economically deprived constituencies in England feature on the low access to nature list, including:

Bradford West (3^rd most economically deprived, 22^nd most nature deprived)
Bradford East (4^th most economically deprived, 20th most nature deprived)
Birmingham Perry Barr (5^th most economically deprived, 24^th most nature deprived).

Communities that are persistently underserved by the economy are also being persistently locked out of the benefits nature provides.

This summer of heatwaves should concentrate minds – those in the most under-served communities are being left without access to parks and rivers, and the cooling, health-protecting services they provide. Sitting in the shade of trees and dangling feet into flowing water should not be activities confined to wealthier postcodes.

The numbers also show that low access to nature is a problem across English regions. Of the 238 low access to nature constituencies, the most are in London (50), followed by the South East (42) and the North West (28).

Historical patterns of development are significant contributors to a lack of access to nature, the places that intensively urbanised in the 19^th century in many cases still face Victorian levels of deprivation to nature, whether in the North or South. The problem also applies across different types of places. Whilst the three constituencies with the lowest access are unsurprisingly urban (Harrow West, Croydon West and Nottingham East), a fair chunk of low access to nature constituencies are in rural areas.

In constituencies like South Norfolk and mid-Leicestershire, a lack of public parks in urban settlements and footpaths outside of them means that nature is inaccessible to some residents, despite living in the countryside.

Access to nature is necessary for a healthy life, but for too many people nature remains too far away. What can be done? The solution starts with turning the Government’s well-meaning commitments into meaningful action.

Ministers should swiftly introduce a legally binding target to ensure everyone can reach a green or blue space within a 15-minute walk of home. This would put its existing commitment into law and drive cross-government action to make access to nature a right enjoyed by every community.

That target should be backed by a comprehensive Access to Nature Strategy, built from a widely consultative Green Paper, focused on tackling inequalities in access and removing the barriers that prevent people from enjoying green and blue spaces. As a priority, the Strategy should ensure new housing developments expand access to green space, not reduce it. Developers should be required to meet minimum Green Infrastructure Standards, including the 15-minute access target, while loopholes in Biodiversity Net Gain rules that weaken nature provision should be closed.

The Strategy should also make it easier for communities to create new opportunities to enjoy nature. A national legal framework should make community campaigns for new recreational trails quicker and easier, while ensuring landowners are fairly compensated. This could unlock thousands of miles of disused railway lines as new walking, cycling and horse-riding routes, reconnecting communities with nature.

Finally, an Access to Nature Strategy must recognise the importance of local authorities in achieving the 15-minute access target. The squeeze on public sector resources is disproportionately affecting parks and green spaces when compared to other service areas. Local authorities should therefore be provided with the long-term funding they need to expand and better manage parks, alongside incentives to bring disused land into community use for new green spaces, allotments and walking, wheeling and cycling routes.

We can’t wait for many more years for Defra to act to deliver these polices. This summer The Wildlife Trusts are asking people to share their experiences of nature, and how access to it has improved their lives. We will compile this evidence with our data analysis and send to Defra with clear recommendations for action.

Add your voice

Andy Burnham has pledged that his Government will ‘help people to live well’. Helping more people to live well through closer, more accessible nature has been on Westminster’s to do list for too long. More nature, more health - now.

Elliot Chapman-Jones is from Liberals and Democrats for Nature and Climate.

View the 238 English constituencies with the lowest access to nature

	Constituency	% of properties within 15 minutes of green or blue space
1	Harrow West	28.77%
2	Croydon West	29.34%
3	Nottingham East	42.91%
4	Doncaster Central	45.84%
5	Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner	46.47%
6	Tynemouth	47.77%
7	Lewisham West and East Dulwich	48.40%
8	Harrow East	48.45%
9	Sutton and Cheam	50.02%
10	East Ham	50.43%
11	Gedling	51.23%
12	Portsmouth South	51.54%
13	Wimbledon	52.04%
14	Liverpool West Derby	53.19%
15	Croydon South	53.26%
16	Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice	53.30%
17	Birmingham Erdington	54.90%
18	Kingston and Surbiton	54.99%
19	Liverpool Walton	55.16%
20	Bradford East	55.59%
21	Walthamstow	55.74%
22	Bradford West	55.81%
23	Blackpool North and Fleetwood	56.38%
24	Birmingham Perry Barr	57.25%
25	Brigg and Immingham	57.30%
26	Islington North	57.37%
27	Hartlepool	57.62%
28	Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham	57.69%
29	Cramlington and Killingworth	57.80%
30	Hampstead and Highgate	58.00%
31	Torbay	58.92%
32	Welwyn Hatfield	59.14%
33	Bexleyheath and Crayford	59.39%
34	Southampton Test	59.61%
35	Lowestoft	59.89%
36	Ealing Central and Acton	59.91%
37	Newcastle upon Tyne North	60.06%
38	Derby South	60.34%
39	Finchley and Golders Green	60.50%
40	Kettering	60.71%
41	Worthing West	60.77%
42	Knowsley	60.87%
43	Coventry North West	60.99%
44	Portsmouth North	61.16%
45	Coventry South	61.43%
46	Cheltenham	62.02%
47	Northampton North	62.34%
48	Luton North	62.39%
49	Wythenshawe and Sale East	62.95%
50	Leyton and Wanstead	62.98%
51	Exmouth and Exeter East	63.03%
52	Clapham and Brixton Hill	63.23%
53	Bromley and Biggin Hill	63.78%
54	Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes	63.81%
55	Derby North	63.82%
56	Hendon	63.82%
57	Birmingham Northfield	63.94%
58	Northampton South	64.31%
59	Uxbridge and South Ruislip	64.45%
60	Sutton Coldfield	64.47%
61	Stretford and Urmston	64.57%
62	Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton	64.63%
63	Exeter	64.94%
64	Broadland and Fakenham	65.12%
65	Peterborough	65.28%
66	Spelthorne	65.31%
67	Beckenham and Penge	65.48%
68	Luton South and South Bedfordshire	65.51%
69	Bethnal Green and Stepney	65.51%
70	Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley	65.69%
71	Bristol North East	65.80%
72	Liverpool Garston	65.94%
73	Filton and Bradley Stoke	65.97%
74	South West Devon	66.17%
75	Mid Norfolk	66.28%
76	Gravesham	66.43%
77	Norwich North	66.45%
78	Chelsea and Fulham	66.82%
79	East Worthing and Shoreham	67.17%
80	Southport	67.24%
81	Brent West	67.31%
82	Bournemouth East	67.38%
83	Bridlington and The Wolds	67.63%
84	Hornchurch and Upminster	67.65%
85	Kingston upon Hull East	67.67%
86	Norwich South	67.81%
87	Brighton Pavilion	67.85%
88	Gorton and Denton	67.87%
89	Croydon East	67.91%
90	Thurrock	68.14%
91	Eltham and Chislehurst	68.22%
92	Blackpool South	68.37%
93	Smethwick	68.41%
94	Peckham	68.65%
95	Windsor	68.67%
96	Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley	68.67%
97	Washington and Gateshead South	68.79%
98	Sheffield Central	68.82%
99	Romford	68.92%
100	Harborough, Oadby and Wigston	69.05%
101	South Norfolk	69.20%
102	Liverpool Wavertree	69.30%
103	Mid Leicestershire	69.31%
104	Holborn and St Pancras	69.71%
105	Birmingham Edgbaston	69.92%
106	Bognor Regis and Littlehampton	70.06%
107	Nottingham South	70.21%
108	Bristol Central	70.26%
109	South Devon	70.26%
110	South East Cornwall	70.32%
111	Scunthorpe	70.34%
112	Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West	70.52%
113	Brent East	70.80%
114	Houghton and Sunderland South	70.84%
115	Southend East and Rochford	70.84%
116	Wolverhampton South East	70.90%
117	Chipping Barnet	70.97%
118	Gillingham and Rainham	71.13%
119	Esher and Walton	71.17%
120	Goole and Pocklington	71.26%
121	Lewisham North	71.42%
122	Hammersmith and Chiswick	71.44%
123	Leeds East	71.53%
124	Old Bexley and Sidcup	71.54%
125	Great Yarmouth	71.85%
126	Reading Central	71.86%
127	Stockton North	72.00%
128	Watford	72.16%
129	Earley and Woodley	72.17%
130	Stockport	72.21%
131	Surrey Heath	72.23%
132	Liverpool Riverside	72.25%
133	Aldershot	72.41%
134	Wirral West	72.51%
135	Halesowen	72.68%
136	Clacton	72.73%
137	Lewisham East	72.76%
138	Wellingborough and Rushden	72.86%
139	Leeds West and Pudsey	72.91%
140	Manchester Withington	73.01%
141	Fylde	73.14%
142	Poole	73.22%
143	Basingstoke	73.35%
144	Leicester South	73.56%
145	Solihull West and Shirley	73.84%
146	Ellesmere Port and Bromborough	73.86%
147	Chingford and Woodford Green	73.88%
148	Brentford and Isleworth	73.96%
149	New Forest West	74.07%
150	South Cambridgeshire	74.10%
151	Wolverhampton North East	74.11%
152	Bassetlaw	74.24%
153	Carshalton and Wallington	74.24%
154	Cheadle	74.39%
155	Plymouth Sutton and Devonport	74.48%
156	Bradford South	74.54%
157	Ipswich	74.56%
158	Gosport	74.60%
159	Manchester Rusholme	74.61%
160	Mansfield	74.68%
161	South West Norfolk	74.68%
162	Birkenhead	74.71%
163	Cambridge	74.80%
164	Nottingham North and Kimberley	74.92%
165	North East Hertfordshire	74.92%
166	Chelmsford	74.94%
167	St Helens South and Whiston	75.20%
168	Havant	75.24%
169	Rayleigh and Wickford	75.34%
170	Bristol North West	75.49%
171	Dulwich and West Norwood	75.62%
172	Gainsborough	75.84%
173	Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North	75.92%
174	Leeds Central and Headingley	75.94%
175	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland	76.03%
176	Daventry	76.05%
177	Orpington	76.13%
178	Rotherham	76.23%
179	East Thanet	76.40%
180	Edmonton and Winchmore Hill	76.46%
181	Birmingham Yardley	76.48%
182	Slough	76.62%
183	Aldridge-Brownhills	76.82%
184	Whitehaven and Workington	76.85%
185	Kingswinford and South Staffordshire	76.86%
186	Chester North and Neston	76.95%
187	Islington South and Finsbury	77.15%
188	Burton and Uttoxeter	77.29%
189	Weston-super-Mare	77.31%
190	Chatham and Aylesford	77.38%
191	Kensington and Bayswater	77.40%
192	North Warwickshire and Bedworth	77.43%
193	Sussex Weald	77.46%
194	Enfield North	77.65%
195	Ilford North	77.67%
196	Streatham and Croydon North	77.72%
197	South Basildon and East Thurrock	77.93%
198	West Ham and Beckton	77.96%
199	Southend West and Leigh	77.99%
200	Hayes and Harlington	78.00%
201	North Devon	78.06%
202	North Norfolk	78.08%
203	Widnes and Halewood	78.09%
204	Hove and Portslade	78.10%
205	Wolverhampton West	78.13%
206	Central Devon	78.23%
207	Leicester East	78.31%
208	Honiton and Sidmouth	78.38%
209	Witney	78.45%
210	Sunderland Central	78.63%
211	Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket	78.75%
212	Torridge and Tavistock	78.76%
213	Truro and Falmouth	78.88%
214	Dewsbury and Batley	78.94%
215	Sevenoaks	78.95%
216	Wokingham	79.03%
217	Grantham and Bourne	79.10%
218	Beverley and Holderness	79.11%
219	Stafford	79.15%
220	Leeds South West and Morley	79.27%
221	Lichfield	79.30%
222	Epsom and Ewell	79.46%
223	Dorking and Horley	79.51%
224	North Shropshire	79.52%
225	West Lancashire	79.54%
226	St Austell and Newquay	79.72%
227	Dartford	79.72%
228	Newton Abbot	79.72%
229	York Central	79.80%
230	Rutland and Stamford	79.80%
231	Middlesbrough and Thornaby East	79.82%
232	Lincoln	79.82%
233	Altrincham and Sale West	79.84%
234	Mid Cheshire	79.86%
235	Dagenham and Rainham	79.88%
236	West Suffolk	79.91%
237	Redcar	79.93%
238	Stockton West	79.98%

A group of adults and children in a community garden opposite a block of flats. The sign reads 'Forest Garden' and there are bushes and sunflowers, amongst other plants

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Nature is still considered to be something that’s ‘nice to have’, instead of something that is necessary for everyone. Help us to change that by sharing your views.

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Too many people are stuck without access to nature

Matt Browne

View the 238 English constituencies with the lowest access to nature

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Change is possible, with your help

Nature is for all: how The Wildlife Trusts are becoming Disability Confident

Nature on the doorstep – a right, not a luxury

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Too many people are stuck without access to nature

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Too many people are stuck without access to nature

Matt Browne

View the 238 English constituencies with the lowest access to nature

Share your views

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Change is possible, with your help

Nature is for all: how The Wildlife Trusts are becoming Disability Confident

Nature on the doorstep – a right, not a luxury