Parque público na Inglaterra
Evaluating the health and wellbeing value of historic public parks and greenspaces.
The impact of the pandemic
Pandemic lockdown measures from March 2020 required people to stay at home; many venues including heritage attractions closed, and gatherings were limited to two people.
During lockdown phases, many relished the freedom to take exercise, and a local park was a great asset. The number of visits surged, and visiting local green spaces proved to be important to many people’s wellbeing.
In 2021, the Office for National Statistics analysed the impact of lockdown on exercise levels and usage of public green spaces. People exercised more during the lockdowns and visits to parks increased in 2020 and 2021. In May 2020, 36% of people responding to Natural England’s annual People and Nature Survey said that they spent more time outside during the pandemic than before, a figure that rose to 46% in July.
Natural England’s 2021 survey also showed that there were more social media conversations about parks and gardens than in the pre-pandemic period and these highlighted the importance of passive outdoor activities like sitting, chatting, picnicking, and reflecting alongside walking and connecting with nature.
TV presenter Claudia Winkleman (Daily Telegraph 21 August 2021) echoed these changes.
I never really go outside, and I never move. I’m on the Tube, or I’m lying down on my bed, or I’m reading out loud for a living. That’s basically it. But in lockdown I discovered the wonder of a park. Me and my family would do this walk and we named all the squirrels and gave them full characteristics. We continue to do it all the time – lockdown gave it to us and now we won’t give it up.
Claudia Winkleman (Daily Telegraph 21 August 2021)
Lots of people, including children, walking, scootering, cycling and running along a path through grass and trees in a park.
Lockdown exercising in Grade II registered Brockwell Park, Lambeth (January 2021). © Richard Baker / Alamy Stock Photo
The role of parks and green spaces
There are more than 27,000 public parks and green spaces across the UK.
We know from the National Lottery Fund’s State of Public Parks report that the main park users are:
People between the ages of 25 and 34 (70 % use their park at least once a month)
Households with children under the age of five (90 % use their park at least once a month)
People identifying as Black and Minority Ethnic (of whom 71% use their park at least once a month compared to 56 % of people identifying as White)
An earlier survey by the Heritage Fund revealed that:
95% of visits are enjoyable, peaceful and relaxing
60% of visitors take more physical exercise because they use parks
80% say the park helps make their area more attractive and a better place to live
Evidence on the contribution of parks and green spaces to physical and mental health had already been submitted to the 2016-17 Select Committee ‘Public Parks’ inquiry and reducing stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression , combating loneliness and encouraging community cohesion are recognised in the government’s subsequent 2018 25-Year Environment Plan.
The Plan includes a policy to help improve health and wellbeing by using green spaces including through mental health services. However, progress was dogged by questions about the validity and reliability of data.