#moregreenspace — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #moregreenspace, aggregated by home.social.
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From #Fairways to #FairUse: Repurposing #GolfCourses
How golf courses can be repurposed to meet the needs of people and planet
Autumn 2024
by Grace Crabtree & Dan Woolley"Back in April 2020, shortly after the UK had gone into lockdown for the first time, Guy Shrubsole, the campaigner and author of Who Owns England (2019), set out to map and investigate London’s golf courses. While a natural continuation of his wider work on land ownership, it was also given particular urgency in the moment – not least for those living in densely populated cities – as the nation began to ask questions about use of, and access to, #GreenSpace.
"The results of this research produced some surprising findings. For example, although a considerable number of golf courses in Greater London are held in private ownership, the figure is less than half, at 45%. This turns out to be only slightly larger than the number owned by councils (42%). After several decades in which councils, schools, and other public institutions have been forced to sell off green space – including school playing fields and county farms – it seems pertinent to ask why so many golf courses have remained untouched.
"Happily, there are signs of progress. In #Cheshire, the #WoodlandTrust recently purchased a former golf course, and have been busy planting trees. The vision is for the site to 'develop as native broadleaf woodland' and to link with other woodland sites as part of the larger #NorthernForest, providing green space and fighting #ClimateChange.
"And further east, on the #Lincolnshire coast, the #NationalTrust is busy converting a disused golf course – #Sandilands – to 'create new habitats for a variety of #wildlife, especially migrating birds like black-tailed #godwit, spotted #redshank and #spoonbills, along with breeding birds such as #snipe, #lapwings and #oystercatchers' This environmental mission is coupled with the social objective of providing 'a space where everyone can enjoy the benefits of being in nature.'
"More controversially, perhaps, the London-based architecture firm #RCKa has developed a proposal to build housing on an existing golf course in #Enfield, at the northern end of the city. Understandably, not everyone agrees with this vision, arguing that green space, once built upon, is lost forever. However, faced with an acute and growing housing crisis, it may be useful to ask whether some compromise solutions might begin to develop at the edges. [Yes, like housing with LOTS of Green Space, including #CommunityGardens , #FoodForests , and #WildlifeCorridors ! Problem solved!]
"What the above examples demonstrate is a growing interest in the potential for repurposing golf courses, for reasons ranging from climate change mitigation and biodiversity benefits, to providing space for housing and food growing.
"Which brings us to #Glasgow, where the #GlasgowCommunityFoodNetwork (#GCFN) are leading on a proposal to transform a disused golf course into a food growing space, with much of the land restored as a richly biodiverse space where wildlife can thrive."
Read more:
https://www.stirtoaction.com/articles/from-fairways-to-fair-use#SolarPunkSunday #MoreGreenSpace #LessGolfCourses #CommunitySpaces #CommunityGardens
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Green solutions for crisis: how #UrbanGreenSpaces enhance #CommunityHealth
Yuliang Wang, et al.
06 May 2026"Urban green spaces (#UGS) are vital for public health, especially during crises like the pandemic. While previous studies have explored the link between UGS utilisation and health, the complex interactions between UGS access, demographic factors, and health behaviours remain underexamined, particularly in Northwest China, where UGS are extremely shortage. This study, conducted in NW China’s core city - #Lanzhou, investigates how the pandemic influenced public engagement with UGS and its subsequent effects on public well-being in three #parks. We found that the pandemic spurred increased park visits, reflecting a heightened awareness of their health benefits, yet also exposed access inequalities, especially among those reliant on motor vehicles, and that proximity, commuting methods, and urban infrastructure significantly impact park usage, with frequent and prolonged visits correlating with improved health outcomes and higher willingness to pay (WTP) for parks, especially among younger, educated, and longtime locals. Conversely, increased travel time discourages engagement with UGS, highlighting the need for #AccessibleGreenSpaces. Notably, landscape characteristics like cohesion and patch density play a critical role in health benefits, with cohesive landscapes supporting more significant health improvements. Interestingly, even those with unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking, report substantial benefits from park use, suggesting the #RestorativePowerOfNature. To enhance UGS accessibility and maximise health benefits, urban planners should focus on creating #PedestrianFriendly environments, improving #PublicTransportation links, and incorporating health-promoting features in park designs. The findings call for urban planners to focus on enhancing #accessibility, #connectivity, and diversity in park designs, tailored to the unique needs of urban populations, making parks more #inclusive and #resilient spaces for all urban residents. This study provides critical insights into the role of urban parks during crises, offering guidance for #UrbanPlanning and public health strategies in similar urban settings."
Learn more:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-026-07437-z?fromPaywallRec=false#SolarPunkSunday #MoreParks #MoreGreenSpace #Microclimates #GreenInfrastructure #OpenAccess #OpenAccessJournals #LivableCities #BuildingCommunity #China #GreenerCities #HealingThroughNature #SpendTimeInNature
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#ChattanoogaTN Just Became North America’s First National Park City. Here’s What That Means
The designation was awarded by a London-based charity that aims to make cities more like national parks: “greener, healthier and wilder”
by Sarah Kuta - Daily Correspondent
April 23, 2025"#Chattanooga has been named North America’s first #NationalParkCity, a designation that acknowledges the city’s abundant green spaces and commitment to environmental stewardship.
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"In Chattanooga, city leaders have used the initiative to encourage residents to 'think about Chattanooga as a city in a park, rather than a city with some parks in it,' says Tim Kelly, the mayor of Chattanooga, in a video announcing the designation.
" 'The outdoors is our competitive advantage,' he adds. 'It’s at the heart of our story of revitalization, and it’s at the core of our identity as Chattanoogans. We’ve always known how special Chattanooga’s connection to the outdoors is, and now it’s going to be recognized around the world.' "
#GreenCities #SolarPunkSunday #GreenSpaces #MoreGreenSpace #MoreParks #EnvironmentalStewardship