Written question asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Recreation Spaces and Trees

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether access to trees and green spaces varies between communities with different levels of socioeconomic deprivation; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such variation.

Answer

Spending time in nature benefits health and wellbeing but use and experience of green and blue spaces varies by factors including geographical location, green space size, income and ethnicity, and further evidence is needed to understand these differences.

The Environmental Improvement Plan sets out this Government’s plans for more inclusive access to nature including delivering 9 new national river walks, investing over £1 billion in tree planting and forestry support and supporting communities most in need through the Nature Towns and Cities programme.

Assessment of access to nature is made through Defra’s Access to Green and Blue Space statistics and Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework Mapping Tool, which maps greenspace, tree cover, deprivation and environmental pressures. The Forestry Commission uses deprivation and woodland access data to target additional grant payments where benefits are most needed. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £5.8 billion over ten years to support neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of deprivation.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL1819
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Recreation spaces Trees
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Recreation Spaces and Trees

Secondary information

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