Environmental Benefits
Protecting and Improving Habitat
For many people the benefit of green space is its ability to provide a habitat for wildlife. With careful planning green spaces can be linked up to reduce fragmentation and improve habitats. Multiuse can be achieved by creating habitats around the margins of a park or setting aside an area of agricultural land or cutting a pond. These spaces can also allow people access to nature and if joined up they would form linear routes or green corridors. As well as human travellers, green corridors allow species to move. Our heritage includes historic landscapes and habitats. Some sites could be damaged if too many people visit them so creating green infrastructure can help take the pressure off over visited ones. The South Sandlings Living Landscape Project will create 3000 hectares for recreation and wildlife.
Flood Management Costs and Adaptation to Climate Change
Green and blue infrastructure can help reduce the economic and insurance costs of flooding. It offers sustainable ways to prepare for climate change in the Haven Gateway. Green spaces can help absorb rainfall and store it; eg in the ground or in ponds, rivers or floodplains. In new housing developments a system of channels and ponds can lessen the effect of covering the land in hard surfaces such as roads and driveways. These drainage areas can accommodate wildlife and allow people access to nature on their doorstep. They can also look attractive. New water absorbent surfaces are being used in some areas. In coastal areas we must consider the best way to respond to changing sea levels. Expensive engineering solutions to flooding are being replaced with more natural methods, creating opportunities to create and restore wetland habitats.
Carbon Reduction and Transport
An attractive green space free from traffic encourages walkers, cyclists and horse riders. If the green corridors connect up work, home and places of recreation the result is fewer car journeys and a healthier lifestyle. The Ipswich River For All project will provide 3,500m of new foot/cycle paths and bridges for commuting and recreational travel. The proposed Harwich Linear Park will considerably improve access to the countryside for the wider community through the upgrading of existing rights of way and creating new links for non-motorised, sustainable modes of transport. Belstead Brook Park is accessible to thousands of local people in Ipswich without the need for car travel.
Air Quality and Quality of Life
Studies have indicated that temperatures in green areas can be lower than in surrounding urban areas. This is important when temperatures are increasing and people will be in search of somewhere cooling. This benefit can even extend into surrounding streets depending on local circumstances and the wind direction. Much of this cooling effect has been attributed to trees. Trees can also absorb carbon and surface water reducing flood problems. In addition, trees provide shade in sunny weather and shelter in wet. Urban trees are a celebrated addition to our townscapes. They and the proximity to other aspects of our natural environment, can have a considerable benefit on our quality of life and our oneness with nature. Other habitats can also absorb carbon and help reduce temperatures and in doing so reduce our need for artificial cooling. The carbon saving from this can be substantial.