The grass isn't greener for everyone

The pandemic and green space. A reflection.

I know that I was (am) more fortunate than some. That despite my moaning that I had to stay on my doorstep and that I couldn't drive to my local moors that I had a garden, I'm very rural and less than 2 minutes from woodland & trails, which lead to surrounding fields.

I could say that if lockdown has taught me anything, it’s that I don’t need to get in the car to drive somewhere green to run.

If lockdown has taught me anything it's the importance of green space and it's impact on general and mental health. 

It's that the virus did (does) not discriminate amongst the rich, poor or ethnic, but those with a household income of less than £15,000 are less likely to have access to green space within a five minutes walk of their home.

It's that we now know that the lockdown was (is) much harder for people who don’t have a lot of living space, a garden, or a nearby park. Or access to green space.

It's that people were left without access to green space for months. They still are.

It's that almost 10 million people in England live in areas with very limited access to green space.

It's that the grass isn't greener for everyone.

'57% of British adults questioned in a survey for the Ramblers said they lived within five minutes’ stroll of a local park, field or canal path while just 39% of people from ethnic minority backgrounds enjoyed the same proximity to green space'.


*cited /data 2020

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