Liverpool residents have some of the best access to parks and green spaces in England, according to new figures published by Fields in Trust.

The charity’s latest Green Space Index, published on Wednesday 23 September, shows just 2% of people in Liverpool live more than a ten-minute walk from a green space, compared with an England average of 8%.

The findings come as Liverpool continues work towards permanently protecting its entire portfolio of parks and green spaces.

According to the new data, 38% of Liverpool residents already live within a ten-minute walk of a permanently protected green space, almost three times the England average of 13%.

Fields in Trust says Liverpool is performing particularly strongly for access to public recreational space, while highlighting the importance of protecting parks for future generations.

The Green Space Index found:

• Just 2% of Liverpool residents live more than a ten-minute walk from a green space, compared with 8% across England.
• 38% live within a ten-minute walk of a permanently protected park, compared with an England average of 13%.
• Liverpool’s population aged 65 and over has increased by 14% since 2011, increasing the importance of accessible green spaces close to home.

Fields in Trust works to permanently protect parks, playgrounds, playing fields and other public green spaces through legal agreements designed to prevent the land being lost to development.

More than 3,000 green spaces have already been protected through the charity across the UK.

Liverpool became the first local authority in the UK in 2021 to commit to legally protecting its entire green space portfolio with Fields in Trust.

The pledge followed campaigning by local communities after a number of parks faced potential development.

Liverpool Parks Friends Forum, which brings together volunteer groups from across the city, challenged proposals through the planning process and gathered evidence showing how extensively local parks were used and valued.

Fields in Trust and Liverpool City Council are continuing to work towards bringing the city’s remaining green spaces under permanent protection.

If completed, the programme would make Liverpool the first UK city where its entire portfolio of council-owned green spaces is legally protected in this way.

The charity says protecting accessible green space is becoming increasingly important as Liverpool’s population grows older.

The number of residents aged 65 and over has increased by 14% since 2011, with Fields in Trust arguing that people who live alone or have limited mobility can particularly benefit from having parks and green spaces within walking distance.

Caroline Williams, Chair of the Liverpool Parks Friends Forum, said:

“This landmark agreement to protect over 100 parks and green spaces across Liverpool is hugely important and it is vital that Liverpool honours this commitment made over five years ago. The first 20 parks have taken over five years to protect and the next 20, which have now been chosen, need to be protected in a much shorter timescale.

“Our parks are at the heart of our communities. They give people space to exercise, to spend time with family and friends and to convene with nature.  For too long we’ve seen these green spaces chipped away at, so securing their protection for the future is something that communities across the city demand. Working with Fields in Trust gives us the chance to make sure these spaces stay protected and accessible, not just for the people who use them today, but for future generations.”

Fields in Trust wants Liverpool’s remaining spaces to be protected through its Deed of Dedication, which is designed to ensure land remains available for public recreation regardless of future changes in planning policy.

It is also calling for its green space standards to be incorporated into local planning policies to ensure new developments provide sufficient accessible recreational space.

The standards are referenced in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework, although Fields in Trust is calling for stronger requirements as new homes are built across the country.

Helen Griffiths, Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, said: 

“Liverpool is already one of the best places in England to find a green space close to home, and that’s testament to a council that listened when its communities fought to save their parks. We’re proud of what’s been achieved together so far.

“We want to keep working with Liverpool City Council to go even further, bringing the same permanent protection to every park in the city. Liverpool has the chance to become the first place in the UK where every resident can be certain their local green space is protected forever, and we’re ready to help make that happen.”

Liverpool is one of eight areas being highlighted through regional findings from this year’s Green Space Index.

Other locations featured include Harlech and Wrexham in North Wales, Greater Manchester, South Derbyshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, Tower Hamlets in London and Horsham in West Sussex.