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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on improving access to parks and green spaces.

The Government recognises the importance of access to nature for health and wellbeing and is committed to ensuring it is safe, inclusive and appropriate. We are delivering on our ambitious manifesto commitments to create nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England while also developing wider policy to improve access to nature in collaboration with other departments and stakeholders.

We are already delivering several initiatives to expand access to green spaces and parks, such as the £16 million ‘Access for All’ programme, which supports inclusive access to protected landscapes, national trailsand green spaces.

The National Planning Policy Framework stipulates planning policies to consider the need for open space and recreation facilities. We have also established the Parks Working Group to find practical solutions to improve the quality and sustainability of parks, with an emphasis on equitable access.

Through the £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods up to £20 million will support 75 communities across the UK over the next decade. This can include improving green spaces, with Chadderton, Ashton under Lyne and Farnworth already selected.

Finally, we own the Green Flag Award scheme, which sets national standards for green spaces. In 2024, 2,227 awards were given, including nine in Manchester.