Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Greenspace Scotland
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Contact us Donate to Parks4Life
Menu
  • Parks4Life
  • Why greenspace matters
    • What is greenspace?
    • Greenspace delivers for...
    • Statistics
  • Who we are
    • Our story
    • Mission and strategy
    • Board
    • Team
    • Company Information
  • What we do
    • How we work
    • Greenspaces and...
      • Better Outside
      • Climate resilience
      • Communities
      • Covid-19
      • Energy
      • Food Growing
      • Health
      • Young People
    • Services
    • Resource library
    • Greenspace map
  • Get involved
    • Find and enjoy greenspace
    • Your greenspace Q&As
    • Start a project
    • Fund your project
    • Support parks
    • Become a member
    • Donate
  • News and events
    • News
    • Ebulletin
    • Project of the Month
    • greenspace scotland events
    • Other events
    • Jobs
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • What is greenspace?
  1. Why greenspace matters
  2. What is greenspace?

What is greenspace?

Greenspaces are our natural health service, our children’s outdoor classrooms and town’s green lungs

Greenspaces really matter because they aren’t just the spaces where kids kick a ball around or where your neighbour walks the dog. Quality greenspaces create environments where we can lead safe, happy, healthy and active lives. They make attractive and vibrant places where people want to live, and businesses invest.

Greenspace – the formal definitions

We define greenspace as any vegetated land or water within an urban area; this includes:

  • parks, gardens, playing fields, children’s play areas, woods and other natural areas, grassed areas, cemeteries and allotments
  • green corridors like paths, disused railway lines, rivers and canals
  • derelict, vacant and contaminated land which has the potential to be transformed

Planning Advice Note 65 on Planning and Open Space sets out a typology of different types of green and open space; an expanded version of this typology was used for the Ordnance Survey Greenspace Map.

 Greenspaces are often multi-functional and are used in many different ways. So, greenspaces can also be described by how people use them.

Greenspaces are...

  • breathing spaces - oases of calm amidst city bustle, space to unwind
  • healthy spaces - inviting places which encourage us to get active
  • living spaces - attractive spaces on our doorsteps
  • meeting spaces - communal places encouraging communities to come together
  • play spaces - safe places where children can adventure, explore and imagine
  • working spaces - attractive places where people want to live and work
  • learning spaces - natural grounds for lifelong learning
  • wild spaces - informal places that welcome nature back to our cities
  • celebration spaces - gathering places where people come together for events and activities
  • creative spaces - inspirational places encouraging creativity in an outdoor setting
  • growing spaces - productive places that nourish and sustain communities and individuals
  • your space - the greenspace on your doorstep – how will you get involved?

Published: 12th February, 2018

Updated: 28th April, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Dundee's greenspaces are getting greener!

    Dundee's greenspaces are getting greener!

    Our July project of the month explores what ‘naturalising’ parks and grassland looks like in Dundee

  • Growing Food Together Fund opens - apply now

    Growing Food Together Fund opens - apply now

    Community growing projects from across Scotland invited to apply -closes 8 August.

  • Introducing our Remembering Together artists and creative practitioners

    Introducing our Remembering Together artists and creative practitioners

    Remembering Together, Scotland’s Covid Community Memorial Programme, is now underway across the country with artists and creative practitioners appointed in 27 local authority areas, from Aberdeen to South Lanarkshire.

  • Food growing in public spaces campaign

    Food growing in public spaces campaign

    Incredible Edible, a network of more than 150 community growing groups, has drawn up plans to oblige local authorities to keep a register of public land suitable for vegetable and fruit-growing, which local groups could apply to access.

Most read

  • Tesco Community Grants

    Tesco Community Grants

    Funding for local projects in Scotland, England and Wales that benefit their community, focus on food or helping children and families. Apply now for funding up to £1500.

  • What is greenspace?

    What is greenspace?

    Greenspaces are the 'green lungs' of our towns and cities which contribute to improving people's physical and mental health by providing places for informal recreation and 'breathing spaces' to take time out from the stresses of modern life.

  • Other funding sources

    Other funding sources

    There are lots of grant and funding programmes that can support greenspace and park projects, activities and events. Thinking about the impact or benefits of your project might help you identify other funding opportunities too.

  • Greenspace map

    Greenspace map

    The greenspace map developed with Ordnance Survey provides information about the location and type of all of Scotland's greenspaces.

  • Silverburn Flax Mill

    Silverburn Flax Mill

    Crowdfunding appeal to support a major community-led initiative for wellbeing, enterprise and employment, benefiting the people of Levenmouth and beyond. The B-listed former Flax Mill building will be brought back to life, creating a sustainable and iconic centre piece for Silverburn Park.

  • 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.

  • Green Heat in Greenspaces (GHiGs)

    Green Heat in Greenspaces (GHiGs)

    Background and outputs from the Green Heat In Greenspaces (GHiGs) project for Scotland

  • 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.

Tag cloud

Better Outside biodiversity climate change community-placemaking Covid 19 food growing green infrastructure health myparklove2018 nature park ParkPower people Tesco Bags of Help young people young placechangers

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Jubilee House, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ

Phone: 07825 678277

Email: [email protected]

greenspace scotland is a registered Scottish Charity (No SC034078) and a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in Scotland (No 236105)

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Resources
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility
  • Login
  • My details
  • Log out

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram