In 30 years of participation I can collapse the whole process into these two phrases. If we provide the enjoyment of nature locally to deprived groups, and give them support, we are setting them on a journey of finally releasing a vast missing contribution, when they too, like so much of us that are privileged with the enjoyment of the beauty of nature, will protect what they love.
Access to nature where we live
Most ethnic minorities live in urban areas, many in deprived locations where there is hardly a shred of green. The first phrase “We love what we enjoy” points to the fact that the natural human process lays down the basis for the outcome that the second phrase “we protect what we love” points to. It is therefore fundamental to pay attention to increasing local green areas.
Potential for greening
There are so many poor quality spaces that can be planted for wildlife, increase biodiversity, provide access to the beauty of nature and counter climate change. In some boroughs the acreage of green areas around social housing exceeds that of local public gardens and parks put together, but these spaces are of the lowest quality. A huge opportunity for transformation.
Transforming our streets
It is important to point out that what can be achieved is not always about money. People have agency. And there are great volunteers and local organisations. This example that I am giving is of local people acting off their own bat to create a green neighbourhood by transforming the streets outside their own front doors. Look at the photo. It is in a poor area with typical old houses.
No project money. It requires a flexible attitude from the local authority to allow people to do things like planting in tree pits, putting huge pots on the pavement, and lifting up paving stones to plant bushes – as long as a buggy or wheelchair can comfortably get through, all is well. The area is so heavily planted that you hardly notice the parked cars. As you come off the A3 and you walk down to these streets, you are consumed by the lushness of the place and the birdsong. Every residential street should be like this. In residential streets, the only cars are ours, the only pedestrians are our family and our friends. The streets are our space.
We have so little space within our cities to create substantial new parks and gardens so we must identify other spaces that have potential for green infrastructure, including streets, schoolgrounds, balconies, or rooftops.
Lets target residential streets, where people live, as part of the UK commitment to plant millions of trees for net zero. Research tells us that in some areas, purposeful planting has reduced the temperature by up to 10 degrees, linking into the climate change agenda to deal with heat islands. It takes time but it can look like this.