Our green spaces

Day 37 #365DaysWild 

Pre-porridge eyes west from Bestwood Country Park. 

Big sky. 

Buzzard & crow altercation. 

Wood pigeon nos building - c90 today. 

Blackberries!

Below I call on the candidates for East Midlands mayor to give special consideration to the value of the green spaces across the new region in what I’ve termed ‘the green heart of England’..

Parklife ...

Our public green spaces have no statutory support but are enjoyed by millions within the region. Collectively they have a significant economic impact and should be celebrated for the wildlife they can nurture. 

This is an area where there needs to be joined-up thinking as it has been demonstrated that there are cost savings derived from reduced pressure on the NHS resulting from people having access to nature. At Bestwood Country Park, the Friends’ group is trialling weekly health walks linked with NHS services. There should be greater support for initiatives like this.

We should ensure that the diverse public parks estate has high quality management that consistently embraces wilder, more biodiverse and pollinator friendly approaches.

The new authority should consider lower-cost natural regeneration to develop new woodlands rather always relying on tree-planting schemes.

There could be a seasonal public information campaign to positively educate about recreational disturbance of nature.

Allestree Park, Derby (where golfers once played) should be our inspiration, becoming the largest urban rewilding park in the country, benefitting wildlife and people - and attracting interest nationally and from overseas.