Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2011 Annual Report (Scotland’s People) was published on 28 August 2012
The Survey covers a range of questions about local services and amenities including a number about local greenspace provision. In-depth analysis is available at a local authority level and where possible greenspace analysis is provided at a 'sub-national' level. The analysis includes: satisfaction with council run parks and open spaces by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation; availability of safe and pleasant parks or greenspace by self-perception of health; frequency of use of council run parks and open space by gender and age; and, frequency of use and satisfaction with council run parks and open spaces rating by of neighbourhood as a place to live.
The results from the 2011 survey reveal over half of adults (56 per cent) in Scotland have access to a useable greenspace (apart from their own garden) that they could walk to within five minutes (13 per cent would have to walk more than 10 minutes). Adults who live less than a five minute walk from useable greenspace are four times more likely to use it every day or several times a week than those who live more than a ten minute walk from useable greenspace (44 per cent versus 11 per cent). Those who use their local greenspace every day or several times a week are considerably more likely to say that their health is good or very good than those who never use their local greenspace (81 per cent versus 63 per cent).
other key greenspace findings include:
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Access to local greenspace differs significantly by area deprivation levels. Less than half (45%) of those living in the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland have access to usable greenspace within a five minute walk, rising to a high of 63% of those in the second least depived areas. Those in the most deprived areas are twice as likely as those in the least derpived areas to say that a local greenspace area that they and their family can use is more than a 10 minute walk away.
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There is an association between access to greenspace and how people rate their neighbourhood as a place to live. 59% of adults who rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live say they have access to an useable greenspace within a five minute walk, compared to jless than half (46%) of those rating their neighbourhood as poor
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Those adults who have useable greenspace within a five minute walk from their home are more likely to say their health in general has been very good or good than those whose nearest greenspace is moret han a ten minute walk away (78% versus 67%)
You can download Scotland's People the full report and results here