Greenspaces Strategy

Developing a Greenspaces Strategy recognises that how these vital community spaces are managed and maintained can help to address many of the key challenges facing the borough - such as improving mental and physical health or climate change resilience.

Feedback from local people has helped to shape the vision, themes and priorities for the Greenspaces Strategy.

• You can download and read the draft Greenspaces Strategy here (PDF). It includes feedback from the 2024 public engagement.

Vision: Our greenspaces enable local communities and the natural environment to thrive.

To achieve our vision, we will focus on supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities, balancing recreational needs and local aspirations while enhancing biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

The key themes are:

1. Health and Wellbeing
2. Nature and Biodiversity
3. Thriving Communities

Each theme is supported by a number of priorities.

Health and wellbeing

• Encourage more active lifestyles within our greenspaces.
• Provide and develop appropriate facilities and opportunities for activities.
• Facilitate the role of parks and open spaces in hosting diverse and sustainable community events and fostering cultural engagement, enhancing the borough's social fabric.
• Continue to support allotment holders to effectively and sustainably manage their allocated plot.

Nature and biodiversity

• Strengthen measures to protect and enhance local biodiversity, contributing to the broader ecological network.
• Enhance adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change.
• Implement and support delivery of key objectives within existing and emerging strategies, and incorporate policies to inform best practice.
• Increase the use of educational tools to inform and engage.
• Effectively and safely manage our tree stock.

Thriving communities

• Enable access to our greenspaces, balancing recreational and biodiversity considerations.
• Actively participate with communities and partners to enhance local spaces.
• Work collaboratively to support community safety in our greenspaces to encourage appropriate behaviours that support everyone's enjoyment.
• Create calm and peaceful memorial spaces.

Overarching principles

To achieve our priorities we will:

• Employ efficient, effective, adaptable, and high-quality management practices and processes.
• Ensure finite resources are appropriately prioritised and pursue external funding and income generating opportunities which enhance impact.
• Review and adapt maintenance regimes to support nature rich places.
• Continue to incorporate environmental sustainability practices that help us achieve our net zero targets; benefit biodiversity; and strengthen local climate adaptation and resilience.
• Carefully balance recreational and biodiversity priorities across our greenspaces.