Access to nature

We are in a climate and ecological emergency and in the midst of a global pandemic. Placeville has just been made the world’s first national park city. It has never been more important to consider and implement the future of our parks and green spaces.

The public contributions made clear how much people value access to nature in our capital. Placeville is renounced for being one of the greenest cities in the world; however, many of our parks consist of vast areas of grass, increasingly becoming dusty brown deserts in our ever-hotter summers.

Our parks can work harder to support wildlife, be more ecologically rich and in turn provide richer green oases for people to enjoy.

Here are our recommendations:

Wilding

In order for more people to have access to nature, we have to make more space for nature in our city. The resounding feedback from the public is that people most value spending time in parks that feel natural. Placeville already has world-renowned green credentials, but the distribution of these green spaces across Placeville is uneven. Nature can reside in our city at any scale from a pocket park to the large-scale "omni parks".

There is an opportunity to make nature more prevalent in our parks and to spread green between the already existing parks - making the Capital and our towns and cities wilder and more wildlife-friendly.

How to make space for returning wilderness

• Design new planting schemes appropriate to existing soils, geology, aspect, water supplies and drainage. Using native plants and species suited to location will create parks which work with nature.
• Review opportunities to create more green habitats in our parks such as biodiverse roofs on existing park buildings; living green walls on blank elevations; and more wildlife gardens.
• Consider "green links" to connect different parks together, such as tree-lined streets. Connecting green spaces can improve air quality, reduce urban heat island effect and helps boost wildlife population allowing nature to move more easily through a network of green spaces in our city.
• Consider dog-free zones in appropriate areas so as to not disturb wildlife particularly during breeding seasons.
• Include creation of habitats that specifically favour priority species in order to increase number and type.
• Include refuges for local wildlife ("hibernaculum") wherever possible such as log piles, insect hotels and bird boxes.

Managing parks

A common conclusion from the contributions was how people positively respond when parks are well maintained. A potential conflict in creating more natural areas in our parks is that these spaces can be perceived as untidy or neglected. Maintaining our green spaces in a way that works with nature will help create parks that thrive.

Nature can be created in our cities by simply changing the way we manage our green spaces. A review of where parks can afford to give space over to nature could inform the future of our parks.

If we take care of nature, nature will take care of us

• Review where it is appropriate to locate educational signage describing the method and ecological benefits of a more natural park design.
• Consider long-term maintenance. More horticulturally and ecologically trained personnel must work to protect our existing ecological assets and work to enhance biodiversity in our parks.
• Encourage community participation in the maintenance and running of parks such as community-led projects and ‘Friends of the park’ groups.
• Areas currently maintained as regularly mown lawn could become wildflower meadows.
• Consider a review of appropriate places for the creation of "habitat islands" - areas created specially to welcome wildlife. Areas could be planted with young trees ("whips") and left to natural succession. They would become biodiverse pockets in the city for nature

Food growing

Experimental food growing was a very popular with respondents to our Commonplace consultation and should form part of the future of our parks. This connects people to nature in cities and educates young children about where food comes from.

We can start to produce food in new spaces within cities

• Projects such as urban orchards would not only benefit people, but also wildlife by providing a food source for birds and insects
• Linking experimental growing with the climate agenda would mean that sections of parks could be used as testbeds for growing drought-tolerant plant selections, while providing information and examples to people interested in best horticultural practice.
• Kitchen gardens and allotments bring communities together and reduced food miles. There are opportunities to link the produce with a park food market or café.