1. What is the value of green space in cities? [c.400 words]
Green spaces in cities such as London can be valuable in many ways, which include economic, social, and environmental aspects. Green spaces can be valuable for the natural environment as they are important for increasing biodiversity and providing habitats for flora and fauna, which would be otherwise unable to live and thrive in a built up area. For example, bats are a legally protected animal, so after building took place to create Stratford’s Olympic Park, where there were previous bat habitats, it was important that there were still places for them to inhabit. To make sure that the green space was valuable to non-humans such as bats boxes were installed to track whether they still inhabited this area. Green spaces and the nature they provide also help the environment by helping offset emissions caused by surrounding buildings and infrastructure. This then links to social value as there would be a reduction in pollution and greenhouse gases, which in turn would increase wellbeing as high levels of pollution can lead to serious health problems. “It also found that 7.9 million Londoners, live in areas that exceed the limit by 50% or more” (Taylor, 2017) with such a high proportion of people potentially needing medical treatment it would cause an increased cost to the NHS, therefore green spaces could yet be seen to have a higher value in terms of financial costs. Furthermore, “studies have found associations between availability of urban green space and physical activity levels” (Taylor, 2017) which can be valuable in a variety of ways. Firstly, increase physical activity would reduce rates of obesity and illnesses associated with this, which would again reduce costs to the NHS but also would improve mental wellbeing, which could increase productivity and help the economy and country as a whole.
However, as space in big cities is often scarce being able to have access to more green space comes at a price. Green spaces often gentrify the area, such as being seen to increase house prices. Although this is the economic and financial value of green space, it causes social injustice as it can push people out because they can no longer afford to live there, so can in fact have a negative value to some people.
2. How does the character and quality of green space vary in different parts of London? [c.400 words]
Character and quality of green space can vary due to many factors. Firstly, wealth and how developed an area is can affect green space. For example, in the City of London there tends to be smaller areas of green space, due to the high amount of infrastructure. The character and features of these green spaces tended to include benches and places to eat lunch, which is appropriate for the area as the City of London is mostly business places and the areas would be used more at lunchtimes during the week. In contrast Stratford’s Olympic Park is much more versatile in its uses, it alongside having picnic benches also has open space to play sport, and children’s play equipment. This is because as Stratford is a recently developed area that previously wasn’t used as much, there was more space for building. The features are more appropriate for the area as it has more residents living in close proximity and also is an area, which actually gets busier at weekends due to the facilities such as Westfield shopping centre and the Olympic aquatic centre. Furthermore, one of Stratford’s characters is that its also wetlands. This is a necessary character as it allows the area to be flooded and protects 5000 homes. This character varies to other green spaces, as it simply isn’t necessary elsewhere. Wealth can also affect green space quality due to the fact there simply isn’t the funding to build or maintain them. For example the parks around Tower Hamlets, a less wealthy borough of London, seemed to be more basic, such as less flowers and tress or benches in them and were generally just areas of open grassland. The areas were slightly overgrown and not particularly clean feeling. Whereas the Olympic Park is an area which has gone through gentrification and has become more wealthy in recent years, and had the funding to make it both more aesthetically pleasing but also more functional by having habitats for non-humans as well as facilities such as play parks and cycle paths for humans. The difference in quality of green space can be seen by the air quality. In Stratford where there is larger green spaces and more flora the air seemed much clearer due to more trees absorbing CO2 opposed to the air around Tower Hamlets where there are high levels of air pollution, “Brixton Road breaches annual air pollution limit in five days” (Dunham, 2017).
3. What is being done to make London green city for all its inhabitants? [c.400]
Although London is already 47% green space, there is currently a proposal to make London more of a green city by making it into the World’s first National Park City. The Greater London National Park City Partnership are aiming to make green spaces accessible to all Londoners.
A proposal which was carried out over the past five years is the Walthamstow Wetlands which will be the largest urban wetland in Europe, spanning over 211 hectares and be made up of 10 separate reservoirs. It will also benefit plants and animals, such as having particularly places for birds including swans and kingfishers, and homes for rare plant species. There are also family days out which are used to help encourage look after the environment and the animals which live there. For example there are workshops to help create bird and hedgehog homes for the winter so they have somewhere to inhabit.
There was an increase in the amount of environment proposals from the Mayor’s Office when Sadiq Khan became Mayor of London. One of his proposals was to “embark on a major tree-planting programme across London” (Khan, 2016). This will physically make London greener but also help with problems such as air pollution and increase habitats for plants and animals. Another proposal, which has been successful, was increasing green roofs and walls. Not only are they habitats for animals and help prevent flooding but they actually can help reduce energy costs due to being able to insulate buildings. There is already over 700 green roofs in Central London alone. This is an easier way for people to get involved with creating more green space as you can do this yourself, for example there is a green roof within Queen Mary University.
4. What are the key challenges of doing this? [c.300]
One of the biggest challenges is funding, not only securing it but also justifying it. Space in London is scarce, so there is competition for land, which will push up the prices. This could push residents and businesses from where they were. This could cause problems
There is an opportunity cost of spending public money to increase green spaces within London. It has been criticised with the argument the money could be used elsewhere such as the NHS or education. The argument is that health and education is more important than more parks in an already busy city.
There is also the problem of NIMBYism. This is because there might be a lot of people who want increased space due to the many positive factors, but don’t want it ‘in their backyard’ due to the previously mentioned problem of gentrification. This could cause challenges
There is also the problem of although green spaces being made with the intention of being public spaces but actually become exclusive, due to not everyone being able to use and access them. Which again could bring up the negative point of funding, people not wanting public money being used for an area that not everyone can access.