Access to open space Access to open space has been brought into sharp focus since the start of the pandemic. Will Romain found that pre-pandemic barriers to access were often exacerbated in this ‘new normal’, while the increased use of these spaces created additional pressures around preservation and maintenance, with the burden often falling on local volunteer groups. Suddenly confined to our homes in March 2020, those of us with gardens, patios and balconies made the most of what outdoor space we had access to. Furthermore, unable to travel more widely, many of us took to our local parks or discovered new patches of green on which to stretch our legs or take exercise with family and friends. The National Trust found that some city parks experienced up to a 300% increase in visits during the spring of 2020, while research by Natural England this year found that almost half of adults recognised that visiting green and natural spaces had been made more important by lockdown. However, the increased importance of open space also highlighted existing inequalities around access. The Office for National Statistics found that while 12% of households in Great Britain had no access to a private or shared garden during the pandemic, this figure is considerably higher for Black (37%) and Asian (22%)
people. The National Trust found that white people were 60% more likely to visit natural settings than people from Black, Asian and other minority groups. Similar trends can be seen in relation to socioeconomic status, with Fields in Trust reporting that, on average, park and green space users typically earn more than non-users). The Office for National Statistics found that people in semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations, casual workers and the unemployed are almost three times as likely as those in managerial, administrative, professional occupations to be without a garden (20% compared to 7%). These national trends were reflected in Bristol. Residents living in the more affluent areas of Clifton, Southville and Hotwells have a likelihood of 19-28% of not being able to access open space, a figure in stark contrast with a likelihood of 62-64% for those living in the Redcliffe and Temple Meads.
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