Nature

Scotland's urban greenspaces are essential habitats for nature — and a powerful tool for tackling the biodiversity crisis.

The State of Nature Scotland 2023 report tells a stark story. In the last decade alone, 43% of species have declined. But nature recovery doesn't only happen in remote landscapes. It can happen in the parks, greenspaces and nature reserves that millions of people live alongside every day.

Most of Scotland's population lives in cities and towns. Urban greenspaces provide a wide range of habitats and ecosystems within the urban environment that are valuable to a variety of wildlife.  When managed well, they support pollinators, birds, insects and plants, and form the ecological connections that nature needs to adapt and recover.

Scotland's Biodiversity Delivery Plan commits to enhancing biodiversity in green and blue spaces, recognising that the spaces within and around our settlements provide important places for both people and nature. 

Scotland's urban greenspaces cover significant ground. In 2024 there were 259 km² of greenspace in urban areas in Scotland, an increase since 2019.  The potential to use this land more effectively for nature is enormous — but it requires the right strategies, the right management plans, and the right partnerships between national bodies, local authorities, and the people who manage these spaces every day.

greenspace scotland works to ensure these spaces can provide the best opportunities for biodiversity.  We collaborate nationally and locally with Local Authorities, NatureScot, Scottish Government, and with communities, charities, and NGOs, to achieve urban greenspaces that are good for nature.