Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure all communities have access to a quality park to allow people to exercise in a safe outdoors space.

Defra recognises the crucial importance of having good access to green spaces for people’s health and well-being. The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our comprehensive and long-term approach to protecting and enhancing our natural landscapes in England for the next generation, and to helping people improve their health and wellbeing by using green spaces.

There are a wide range of initiatives within Defra which are helping to increase access to green spaces across the whole of England. These include, but are not limited to:

• Trees for Climate programme
• Green Recovery Challenge Fund
• Green Social Prescribing Project
• Engagement with Protected Landscapes to improve access
• Nature for Climate Fund
• Schemes that reward environmental land benefits
• National Framework of Green Infrastructure Standards
• Development of the England Coast Path and a new north coast to coast National Trail

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has responsibility for urban parks and green spaces. MHCLG is aiming to explore how it can best support all urban parks and green spaces, taking into account the Government’s environmental, social, and health priorities.