When you don't have access to a private garden space, local parks and greenspaces are even more important.

New research from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reveals that one in eight households (12%) in Great Britain has no access to a private or shared garden during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. This figure rises to 13% in Scotland.

The research also found that areas least likely to have a private garden are most likely to live close to a public park. The table below shows how Scotland compared to other areas of Great Britain

The research, which uses data from Natural England's Monitor of the Natural Environment (MENE), provides more detailed information about gardens and greenspace access in England:

• People of Black ethnicity are nearly four times as likely as those of White ethnicity to have no access to outdoor space at home, whether it be a private or shared garden, a patio or balcony (37% compared to 10%)
• People in semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations, casual workers and those who are unemployed are almost three times as likely as those in managerial, administrative and professional occupations to be without a garden (20% compared with 7%)
• 8% of people aged 65 years and over are without access to any kind of private outdoor space

The ONS research also provides a tool to explore access to gardens (and their typical size) by postcode.

During the covid-19 lockdown, parks and greenspaces have been especially valuable to those without access to a private garden.

Read the full report