Protecting Nature and Green Spaces for Everyone

The natural world is not simply there to be used; we are a part of it. It is nature that allows human society to exist and thrive. For example, farming depends on natural processes like pollination to produce food, while quality green spaces in urban areas are vital to our health, physical and mental. Social ties and our bonds with nature interact, as so many learned during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Cambridge’s iconic greens and commons are part of what gives the city its unique character, yet an estimated 68% of residents do not enjoy the level of access to green space that the World Health Organization recommends¹⁷. In other words, Cambridgeshire is nature-depleted, and our focus should be on restoring nature and not simply protecting what remains now. Unfettered development is driving further destruction of green space within Cambridge and across the Green Belt, and further fragmenting wildlife habitats. We must protect what we have, greatly expand the area of land set aside for nature, connect up our endangered habitats and safeguard them in perpetuity. We need to support Cambridgeshire farmers and rural communities, by encouraging the transition to more sustainable farming methods, by urging councils and businesses to buy more local food, and by improving public transport throughout Cambridgeshire.

Green-led Councils would:

oppose further losses of urban green space and Green Belt. Where a genuine local need for development has been identified, we would prioritise brownfield sites (subject to appropriate environmental impact assessments) and require high- quality green space for nature and people to be part of the design;
call for appropriate monitoring and enforcement of Biodiversity Net Gain and also for very tight regulation of the market for biodiversity “units.” Now that BNG is becoming mandatory for new developments we are very concerned that it will, in practice, lead to loss of biodiversity. In assessing planning applications we will insist that requirements are achieved on-site and not through off-setting.
oppose “garden grabbing” and the removal without good cause of even small natural elements, such as hedges or grass verges;
promote the expansion and full protection of the network of City Wildlife Sites, Country Parks and Local Nature Reserves;
ensure recreational green spaces and play areas are safe, clean, clear of litter and accessible to all;
support tree planting initiatives and help to ensure these are carried out according to best practice, opposing any unnecessary removal of trees or pressure from insurers relating to subsidence claims;
empower local neighbourhood groups to take care of biodiversity on their streets, making sure young trees are watered and that where appropriate wildflowers are planted on grass verges, working together with local groups like ‘On the Verge’¹⁸;
increase Council officer time allocated to biodiversity and green spaces and appoint dedicated wardens for specific areas; improve the support available for volunteer and community involvement in managing green space.

¹⁷	Barboza et al. 2021. Green space and mortality in European cities: a health impact assessment study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00229-1/fulltext. The WHO recommends that everyone live within 300 metres (five minutes’ walk as a rule of thumb) of a green space measuring at least O.5 hectares.
¹⁸	https://www.onthevergecambridge.org.uk/