#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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The #Science of #SolarPunk -- why we need #GreenerCities!
Equitable urban green space planning for sustainable cities: a GIS-based analysis of spatial disparities and functional strategies
Published: 02 July 2025
Sayyed Kifayatullah, Zafeer Saqib, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Muhammad Zaman-ul-Haq, Dmitry E. Kucher, Sajid Ullah & Aqil Tariq"Abstract:
#UrbanGreenSpaces (#UGS) are critical for fostering ecological sustainability and social equity in rapidly urbanizing cities like #Islamabad, #Pakistan. This study aimed to comprehensively map and classify Islamabad’s UGS, identify spatial disparities, and evaluate their ecological, recreational, and social functions. The research also proposed sustainable strategies for managing UGS to address urban challenges, including climate adaptation, biodiversity loss, and social inequity. The study developed a detailed spatial map of Islamabad’s UGS using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and high-resolution satellite imagery. Seven typologies were categorized and analyzed, including parks, playgrounds, institutional green spaces, and waterways. Field surveys and random sampling validated the thematic maps, achieving an accuracy rate of 95.68% based on statistical metrics like Kappa coefficients. The study revealed significant disparities in UGS distribution.
"Wealthier zones had larger, well-maintained green spaces, while denser areas lacked accessible and functional UGS. Recreational spaces, institutional greenery, and waterways played a vital role in enhancing biodiversity, urban aesthetics, and community well-being, though many remain underutilized or degraded. Institutional green spaces contributed significantly to urban sustainability, comprising 17.05 km² of the total UGS area. The research highlights UGS as an essential #NatureBasedSolution (#NBS) for addressing urban challenges like #HeatIslands, #stormwater management, and #SocialInequalities. The findings serve as a model for other rapidly urbanizing cities seeking #ecological and social balance.
[...]
"Conclusion
[T]his study underscores the pivotal role of UGS in fostering ecological #sustainability, social equity, and urban resilience, particularly in rapidly urbanizing cities like Islamabad. By leveraging GIS and high-resolution satellite imagery, the research provides a detailed analysis of the spatial distribution, typologies, and functional value of #GreenSpaces across the city. The findings reveal striking disparities, where wealthier neighborhoods enjoy better-maintained parks and green belts, while densely populated and economically underprivileged areas often lack accessible and functional green spaces. This imbalance highlights the urgent need for equitable planning and management of urban greenery.
"The research affirms that UGS are more than aesthetic elements; they serve as vital ecological assets by regulating #UrbanMicroclimates, enhancing #biodiversity, managing stormwater, and mitigating the urban heat island effect. Socially, they contribute to community well-being by offering recreation, relaxation, and physical activity spaces. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, such as the uneven distribution, poor maintenance, and underutilization of certain green spaces, which limit their potential to deliver these benefits.
"To address these challenges, the study emphasizes the importance of integrating UGS into #UrbanPlanning policies to ensure #EquitableAccess for all city residents, regardless of socioeconomic status. It also highlights the value of #CommunityInvolvement in the upkeep and management of green spaces, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among local stakeholders. Sustainable funding mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, are proposed to ensure UGS’s regular maintenance and future expansion. Moreover, the research advocates for continued use of data-driven decision-making, leveraging GIS tools to monitor and optimize green infrastructure for long-term sustainability. While this study focuses on Zone I, expanding future research to other zones would offer a more comprehensive perspective on UGS distribution and accessibility across the entire city.
"This research presents UGS as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to tackle pressing urban challenges like #ClimateChange, flooding, and social inequalities, offering actionable strategies for policymakers and urban planners. While centered on Islamabad, these findings provide a valuable framework that other rapidly urbanizing cities can adapt to strike a balance between development and ecological integrity. The study reminds that sustainable cities must prioritize green spaces to ensure a livable, #equitable, and #resilient urban future."
Full article:
http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-07578-2#SolarPunkSunday #MoreTrees #GreenerCities #MoreGreenSpace #Microclimates #GreenInfrastructure #OpenAccess #OpenAccessJournals #LivableCities
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The #nature cure: how time #outdoors transforms our #memory, #imagination and #logic
Without engaging with #NaturalEnvironments, our #brains cease to work well. As the new field of environmental neuroscience proves, exposure to nature isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity
by Sam Pyrah
Mon 27 Nov 2023 05.00 EST"You are probably aware of studies showing that green (#vegetated) and blue (moving #water) environments are associated with a reduction in stress, improved mood, more positive emotions and decreases in anxiety and rumination. But there is growing evidence that nature exposure also benefits cognitive function – all the processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding, including perception, memory, reasoning, judgment, imagination and problem-solving. One study found that after just 40 seconds of looking out at a green roof, subjects made fewer mistakes in a test than when they looked at a concrete one."
#SaveNature #NaturalWorld #MoreGreenSpace #Gardens #OpenSpace #NatureIsATemple #ProtectTheForests #ProtectNature #NatureBathing #GreenSound