Our Green Spaces

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Why do we need them?

 

Green spaces play an important role in the health and wellbeing of our community. They provide places to relax, exercise, enjoy nature, grow food and spend time outdoors.

You can explore circular walking routes that link our green spaces and make them appealing. Research suggests that some groups, particularly teenage girls, prefer a range of smaller green spaces rather than one large park.

Alongside recreation and community activities, green spaces can also support wildlife and biodiversity. Trees, for example, provide habitat for pollinators as well as shade for people and wildlife during warmer summers.

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Our Green Spaces Strategy

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Benson Parish Council has adopted a Green Spaces Strategy which sets out how these areas will be protected, managed and improved. We will also work with neighbouring parish councils to explore similar approaches across the wider area.

Most of our green spaces are designated as Local Green Spaces within Neighbourhood Plans. This gives them protection equivalent to Green Belt under national planning policy. Almost all are publicly owned, helping ensure they remain accessible for the whole community.