Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen
A new report published today (25 June) highlights the positive impacts of open green and blue spaces on the health and wellbeing of Aberdonians and visitors.
The 2024 Open Space Audit is used to assist in protecting and enhancing green spaces through the planning process and by supporting blue and green infrastructure policies.
Aberdeen City Councillor Miranda Radley, Communities, Housing and Public Protection committee said: “Aberdeen’s open spaces are essential for our health and wellbeing.
“Aberdeen’s Open Space Audit provides key information on the types, quality and accessibility of open and green spaces in the city that are critical to directing greenspace policies, management of spaces, and the interventions of partners, the community and other organisations.”
The audit covers various types of open spaces, including parks, gardens, playing fields, woodlands, play areas, allotments, and civic spaces. These spaces are managed by various stakeholders, including Aberdeen City Council, community groups, volunteers, businesses and partners.
By providing information on information on the types, quality and accessibility of publicly accessible open green spaces, the audit plays a key role in directing the policies and management and the interventions of communities and other Council partners in shaping those spaces for the benefit of users.
Together, these help to deliver the outcomes set out in the Net Zero Aberdeen Natural Environment Strategy, Aberdeen Adapts, Council Climate Change Plan, Aberdeen Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2016-2026, and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.
Open spaces improve quality of life by giving citizens opportunities to connect with nature and people, tackle the global climate-nature crisis, promote nature recovery, and make positive environmental changes.
Key findings include:
• 82% of respondents said they would like to see more greenspaces managed in a more natural way for the benefit of wildlife and nature
• 79% of respondents were satisfied with the overall quality of open spaces, with parks and woodlands receiving the highest satisfaction
• Survey respondents highlighted the critical role that green spaces play in promoting overall health and well-being, with physical exercise or health reasons, to be in nature and to socialise given as the top three reasons why people use open spaces
• Open space quality indicators showed that accessibility and attractive and appealing place categories scored the highest
The audit also provides insights into access to open space, with approximately 63% of households within 1,500m of a major open space, 45% within 400m of a natural greenspace over 2 hectares and 75% within 710m of a public park or garden.
Additionally, the report assesses the quality of open spaces, through accessibility, attractive and appealing place, health, community value and biodiversity quality indicators.
The findings, Audit Mapping, and Audit Data Dashboard are publicly available for use by everyone with an interest in helping to drive positive environmental changes, identify projects and secure funding for environmental improvements at site, community, and city-wide levels.
The Audit is a snapshot in time and how spaces are used and their quality can change over time. However periodic updates to the Audit mapping will be made.
The Audit findings, mapping and Data Dashboard can be viewed on the Open Space webpage Aberdeen Open Space Audit 2024