Sustainable communities

The Government’s policy for sustainable development ‘Securing the Future’ stresses the importance of the natural environment to public health and a good quality of life. It also highlights the need to focus attention on those communities who are most disadvantaged economically and socially, as these are the people most likely to live in a degraded environment.

Health and wellbeing

Public health is a key component of quality of life. The Government health white paper ‘Choosing Health’ sets out a number of key principles for helping the public to make healthier and more informed choices about their lifestyles, including the use of open spaces and the countryside for active recreation and sport.

In the East Midlands around 30% of adults meet recommended physical activity levels. The Public Health strategy ‘Investment for Health’ identifies an increase in physical activity as a prime target for improving the region’s physical, mental and social well being.

Access and recreation

The Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission have surveyed much of the region’s woodland to establish how much of it is accessible to the general public. The results of this work to date have shown that people in the East Midlands have less access to local woodland than those in any other English region, including London.

In addition, the Diversity Review - a major national research programme into the needs and concerns of under represented groups in the countryside - has demonstrated a general lack of engagement between those who manage outdoor recreation provision and the full range of people who could use their facilities.

In particular the needs and concerns of the elderly and people with disabilities, people from black and minority ethnic communities, people on low incomes and those from inner cities, women and young people are commonly overlooked. As a result the potential opportunities that inclusion would bring, to both the user and provider, is often lost.

Green infrastructure

To support the development of more sustainable communities and to meet the access needs of all sectors of the community, the region needs to plan for and provide an appropriate mix of natural green spaces, habitats and associated features.

Achieving this through the development of a robust ‘green infrastructure’ is a regional priority.

Much of the region’s current woodland access provision is on sites owned by public and voluntary sector bodies such as the Forestry Commission, local authorities, Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust. There are, however, an increasing number of access opportunities in privately owned woodlands.

As the development of green infrastructure and the extension and enhancement of woodland access becomes more targeted in areas of greatest need, delivery through partnership with private landowners will become increasingly important.