Greenspaces are our towns and cities green lungs

Contributing to the Scottish Government Outcome:

Research shows that greenspaces:

• improve air quality and reduce noise pollution
• reduce the urban heat island effect through evaporating water from trees and plants, reducing energy use from air-conditioning, shading of trees and decreasing wind speed
• support adaptation to and mitigation of the effects of climate change
• provide opportunities to develop commuting and recreational routes to support active travel
• create green corridors, supporting biodiversity and connecting habitats
• bring people and nature together
• provide opportunities for local food growing and generation of heat and energy

The benefits and ecological services that greenspaces provide are often unappreciated and undervalued. The Natural Capital Account for London shows the city’s public greenspaces have a gross asset value of more than £91 billion, providing services valued at £5 billion per year. For each £1 spent by local authorities and their partners on public greenspace, Londoners enjoy at least £27 in value.

Scotland is home to the largest greenspace initiative in Europe. The Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN)  is a national development within the National Planning Framework which aims to change the face of Central Scotland by restoring and transforming the landscape of an area stretching from Ayrshire and Inverclyde in the west, to Fife and the Lothians in the east.

CSGN’s goal is that ‘by 2050, Central Scotland will have been transformed into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality.’ This initiative involves public agencies and stakeholders working together to align their policies, programmes and actions, supporting a wide range of greenspace and green infrastructure projects.

Contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals: