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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Nottingham: City council unveils Greenspace strategy as a three-year programme

Nottingham City Council has unveiled a comprehensive Green Space Strategy.

The plan aims to improve and sustain the city’s green and blue ( blue: rivers, lakes etc ) infrastructure, protect local habitats, engage citizens, and establish a financially sustainable model for the city’s green spaces.

Vision for a Greener Nottingham

The strategy is driven by the vision to make Nottingham a healthy, safe, clean, green, proud, and ambitious city. Funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the three-year program has a dedicated project team focusing on consultation, asset mapping, and cross-sector partnership opportunities in and around the city.

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Key Objectives

Nottingham’s green and blue spaces cover 38.1% of the city, aligning closely with Natural England’s Urban Greening Factor Standard target of 40%. The strategy emphasises a holistic approach, integrating insights from various audits and mappings, such as quality audits, natural capital/biodiversity opportunity mapping, and tree canopy mapping.

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Stakeholder Engagement and Participation

Engagement with stakeholders is a critical component, says the council – involving groups like the Open & Green Spaces Champions Group, Nottingham Open Spaces Forum, and the general public through face-to-face and online sessions. Primary consultations have highlighted the community’s connection to these spaces, with 63% of residents visiting parks at least once a month and over 90% believing their park is important for their neighbourhood’s well-being.

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Resilience and Biodiversity

The strategy also addresses climate resilience. Following the declaration of a climate and ecological emergency in 2019, the city’s green spaces are pivotal in mitigating climate impacts, such as air pollution and flood protection. The Tree & Woodland Strategy aims to increase tree canopy cover, enhancing the city’s capacity to absorb carbon and rainfall, and providing shade during summer months.

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What the designs for The Green Heart look like

Health and Inclusivity

Health and well-being are part of the strategy too. Public Health and Green Social Prescribing could be used to connect at-risk individuals to nature. The strategy promotes food-growing initiatives in various urban settings and  the importance of volunteer participation in maintaining and enriching these spaces.

Future Prospects

The approach includes a focus on environmental justice, ensuring that as the city grows, the demand for green spaces is met. With a projected 5% population growth over the next 20 years, the strategy aims to create better-connected green spaces through initiatives like “Green in 15,” which enhances access and extends environmental benefits to people, nature, and wildlife.

 

Nottingham Green Spaces – the numbers at a glance

• Nottingham’s green and blue space covers 38.1% of the city.
• 1.1 million visits per month to parks and open spaces.
• 63% of residents visit parks at least once a month.
• Over 90% of the city’s playgrounds are maintained by the council.
• More than 90% of residents value their local park for its environmental benefits.

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