Authored by Prof Ben Wheeler

Over 350 participants joined us in October for a webinar held in collaboration with our colleagues at the Town and Country Planning Association.

The webinar raised and debated the fundamental issues being addressed by the NIHR-funded Tackling health inequalities through green/blue infrastructure project.

The webinar kicked off with an introduction from Ben Wheeler on how health inequalities and green/blue infrastructure – natural features including parks, street trees, and waterways – are related.

Geographical health inequalities in the UK are stark. For example, the gap in healthy life expectancy across local authorities in England is around 20 years. Natural infrastructure might help to reduce these inequalities, such as by providing green spaces for exercise and social connection, or with urban trees providing a cooling effect during heatwaves.

However, this infrastructure is not distributed equally, for example wealthier neighbourhoods typically have more trees, gardens, and higher quality parks.

Mark Ferguson presented on the initial phases of the research project, in which we are co-producing systems mapping of the complex interconnections between nature and health inequalities with planning, environment, and public health professionals, public partners, and other academic researchers.

We also heard from project collaborators from Dorset Council, Rupert Lloyd and Amy Smith, with a case study on how nature accessibility and inequalities have been woven into the draft Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Discussions ranged far and wide, with points raised such as the need for green and blue spaces that respond to the needs of local communities, and the importance of considering how green/blue infrastructure situates within wider social, demographic, and cultural circumstances.

You can catch up on a recording of the webinar here.