Charity organisations have asked for increased action to green cities across the United Kingdom and “improve people’s quality of life and provide a home to nature” in advance of Earth Day on April 22.
The purpose of the yearly conservation event, which dates back to the 1970s, is to inspire individuals to take meaningful steps towards the preservation of the natural environment.
People in Buckingham have access to 4,317 metres of green public rights of way within a ten-minute walking distance, according to the figures. Out of the 448 constituencies in England, this one comes in at number 38.
Everyone should live “within 15 minutes’ walk of accessible green space,” according to James MacColl, head of policy, advocacy, and campaigns at the Ramblers. “We should be working to make our towns and cities some of the best and most liveable in the world by creating green walking routes that allow residents and visitors to experience all of the benefits of walking in nature right from their doorstep,” he said.
With the addition of tree planting and other activities, such as pocket parks in urban areas, the Ramblers suggested that those who are lacking in green space should benefit from these projects.
Separate data from the environmental organisation Friends of the Earth reveals that 43 per cent of communities in England have a tree canopy cover of less than ten per cent, while 84 percent of neighbourhoods have a canopy cover of less than 20 per cent.
We need a wave of tree planting across the United Kingdom and around the world, particularly in residential areas and urban areas
According to the study, 73 per cent of the houses in Buckingham had a tree canopy cover of less than ten per cent. Only 8.9 per cent of the total area in the constituency is covered with trees, which is equivalent to 7,691 hectares.
In addition, the results demonstrated that the area with the lowest incomes has a smaller number of trees. According to Mike Childs, who is head of policy at Friends of the Earth, “Green space and tree cover are important for people’s mental health as well as vital for nature.”
“In order to enhance tree cover, green streets, and build new parks, councils want the tools and resources that are available over the long term.
The quality of life of people will increase as a result of greening our cities, and nature will have a place to call home.
As stated by Kathleen Rogers, president of EARTHDAY.ORG, trees not only offer vital habitats for various species of wildlife but also contribute to the maintenance of cool surface temperatures.
She stated, “We need a wave of tree planting across the United Kingdom and around the world, particularly in residential areas and urban areas.”
In the past 20 years, the United Kingdom has lost a total of 109,000 hectares of tree cover, and it is imperative that the country embark in a massive tree planting initiative.
Additional data from the Office of National Statistics reveals that people in the United Kingdom spend less time in natural settings than they did before to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
It is estimated that approximately 1.1 million fewer people across the United Kingdom obtained health benefits from spending time in nature in 2022 compared to two years earlier. This is equivalent to a loss of 22,000 years of life under perfectly healthy conditions.
We are increasing access to nature, and our Environmental Improvement Plan set out our ambition for every household to be within a 15-minute walk of a green space or water
A spokeswoman for the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs said: “We are increasing access to nature, and our Environmental Improvement Plan set out our ambition for every household to be within a 15-minute walk of a green space or water.
“We are also reducing other barriers that prevent people from accessing green and blue spaces, including through our ‘Access for All’ programme, which is running at a cost of £140 million.”
In addition, they stated that they had announced a set of measures that would constitute a new national park, as well as 34 new landscape recovery projects, new woods, and funds to assist in increasing the number of youngsters who spend time outside and in rural areas.
