As we continue to adapt to living with covid-19, we are developing a new resource Safer outside – using our spaces more to encourage and support our greenspaces to be used more for activities that would normally take place inside.

At greenspace scotland, we've always talked about parks and greenspaces as our natural health service, our children's outdoor classrooms, our community and leisure centres without a roof. Now, more than ever, we all need easy access to good quality local greenspaces.

We all know that we are generally ‘safer outside’, but sometimes taking activities outside is easier said than done…and with some sectors of society already under-represented in using our greenspaces, it may be even harder for them to feel safer outside or even to think of using greenspaces as an option.

We want to hear from you!

* Have you taken your indoor activities outside?

* Is another group starting to use your outdoor space for new activities?

* Are you coming up against issues or barriers in taking your activities safer outside?

* Are you an organisation that supports groups that could benefit from doing more outside?

Please contact us by email (with Safer Outside in the subject line) with your examples, achievements, ideas and issues. Between now and the end of the year, we have some funding from the National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund to gather and share inspirational work; useful and transferrable ideas; and to support some groups as they develop their projects and activities.

Safer outside – using our spaces more builds on our work, also supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, on the guide to Managing Scotland’s parks and greenspaces during covid-19 - Section 8 looks at opportunities for wider uses of parks and greenspaces to support education, healthcare and community activity.

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