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  • better-outside
  1. What we do
  2. Greenspaces and...
  3. Better Outside

Better Outside - using our spaces more

At greenspace scotland we’ve always talked about parks and greenspace as our natural health service, our children’s outdoor classrooms, our community and leisure centres without a roof. Now we need them more than ever.

During the first lockdown we heard lots of heart-warming stories of how local greenspaces, communal gardens, back greens and back courts were helping people connect and cope with the lockdown. There were home-gardening packs, colourful potato sacks, bug bingo, yarn bombing of rainbows and butterflies, and shopping drop offs for older neighbours who were getting through flour supplies at a rate comparable to the Bake Off tent! As lockdown restrictions started to ease, many groups started to find ways of taking the indoors – outdoors, moving activities from community centres, village halls, schools and leisure centres into local parks and greenspaces.

As we continue to adapt to living with covid-19, Better outside – using our spaces more provides examples, ideas, inspiration and resources for taking indoor activities outside.

Get in touch! We would love to hear how you have been using your local greenspace and taking the indoors-outdoors.

Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting work on Better Outside - using our spaces more

Better Outside Resource Pack  |  Better Outside Ideas Source Book   |   Better Outside articles  |  Better Outside Project Examples   |  Media Release

Arts, culture and heritage outside

Arts, culture and heritage outside

The doors may be closed but music, theatre, cinema and film have continued to entertain and uplift us in new al fresco locations. Read more

Published: 30th November, 2020

Updated: 12th March, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

Free-range community centre

Free-range community centre

With community centres and village halls out-of-bounds, many groups have relocated activities and services outside, turning our parks and greenspace into community centres without a roof. Read more

Published: 29th November, 2020

Updated: 12th March, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

Let's keep growing

Let's keep growing

Allotments and community gardens have remained open for individual gardening and organised group activities. There’s been an amazing amount of fruit and veg growing, with surplus veg being distributed to neighbours and foodbanks. Read more

Published: 28th November, 2020

Updated: 9th March, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

Outdoor play and learning

Outdoor play and learning

From informal play to outdoor nurseries and taking lessons outside, there are lots of ways that parks and greenspaces can be used for play and learning. Read more

Published: 19th November, 2020

Updated: 15th March, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

Employability and skills

Employability and skills

Many parks and heritage projects are connected with training and employability schemes. Projects have found ways to continue their activities and services by taking more of their activities outside. Read more

Published: 17th November, 2020

Updated: 18th March, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

Health and wellbeing outside

Health and wellbeing outside

Greenspace really is our natural health service and throughout lockdown we were encouraged to get outside for our daily exercise and many people found this really helped their mental health and wellbeing. Read more

Published: 15th November, 2020

Updated: 9th March, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

Youth work al fresco

Youth work al fresco

After taking youth work online during lockdown, many groups were excited about swapping digital for the great outdoors. Read more

Published: 15th September, 2020

Updated: 9th March, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

Technical resources

Technical resources

We have been working with partners to gather examples and develop concepts and designs of the infrastructure needed to support activities happening outside in parks, greenspaces and education/health estate grounds. Read more

Published: 10th September, 2020

Updated: 6th May, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

Ideas Source Book

Ideas Source Book

Thinking about shelter, seating, lighting or planting, there will be something in the Ideas Source Book to inspire you. Read more

Published: 1st September, 2020

Updated: 9th March, 2021

Author: Ian Goodman

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  • Ebulletin

    Ebulletin

    Our free, monthly e-bulletin includes local, national and international greenspace-related news, as well as the latest information from greenspace scotland and our members.

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  • Our story

    Our story

    Since 2002, greenspace scotland has provided a national lead on greenspace, working towards our goal that everyone living and working in urban Scotland has easy access to quality greenspace which meets local needs and improves their quality of life.

  • Statistics

    Statistics about the size and importance of greenspace across Scotland.

  • How we work

    How we work

    We provide a national lead for action on parks and greenspaces. Working in partnership we pioneer new approaches to managing and resourcing greenspace.

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