By Chioma Wuche
In an increasingly hectic world, the importance of nature in our lives cannot be overstated. Green spaces offer more than just aesthetics; they are essential to our physical health, mental well-being, and connection. Yet for many, access to these natural environments remains limited due to a number of barriers.
We are working in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames on their 'Green Spaces' Project which aims to identify the barriers that prevent residents from fully enjoying and using green spaces and what might help them to do so. To do this, we have taken a mixed methods approach to this research, including in-depth ethnographic research and walkabouts in local areas, to gather insights into how residents interact with green spaces and exploring what can be done to improve their use of green spaces.
As part of the project, we have also launched the Kingston Green Spaces survey.
This survey has been an essential tool for gathering insights from a wider breadth of residents about what they like and dislike about Kingston's green spaces, as well as what they envision for the future of these spaces.
Since its launch, we've had the pleasure of speaking with many residents, learning about their current use of green spaces, and discussing ways to encourage more frequent and meaningful engagement with green space. As part of our outreach, we recently visited the Achieving for Children Play event where we gathered valuable insights from families on how to make green spaces more appealing and accessible for families like them. By immersing ourselves in the community, we hope to deliver a tailored approach to meet the diverse needs of Kingston’s residents.
Why is access to nature important in Kingston and beyond?
Spending time in nature provides a respite from the pressures of daily life it’s been shown to reduce stress, enhance mood, and improve wellbeing; whether it’s a walk through a local park or green space, tending to an allotment or simply sitting in a garden - Green spaces are essential as they provide the opportunity for adults and children to improve their overall wellbeing.
Unfortunately, the benefits of green spaces are not equally distributed for certain groups or communities- they may lack access to nature or may face other individual and emotional barriers. Improving access to nature and green spaces is about more than just parks and gardens; it’s about creating a healthier, more equitable world for all of us to experience, take joy from and feel welcome and connected to the local environment.
The Kingston Green Spaces project is a step in the right direction towards achieving these aims, ensuring that everyone in a community can enjoy the many benefits that nature has to offer. In the coming weeks, we’re looking forward to completing our research and developing key insights and recommendations that will support RB Kingston in achieving such an important mission.
1. Out of Bounds Equity in Access to Urban Nature- An overview of the evidence and what it means for the parks, green and blue spaces in our towns and cities (2021)
For more information on this project, please contact chioma@neighbourlylab.com
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