14 September 2019
In their position statement on “Public Health and Landscape”, The Landscape Institute emphasises the important role that the local landscape plays in nurturing wellbeing and improving public health. Through the “five principles of healthy places” the position statement outlines how:-
• Healthy places improve air, water and soil quality which will have a knock-on positive effect on the health of the local populace.
• Healthy places have the potential to promote healthy lifestyles when easily accessible to everyone.
• Healthy places help to reduce stress, promote positive social interaction and reduce the likelihood of anti-social behaviour.
• Healthy places have a positive influence on working and learning. Providing a place to play and learn about the natural world and, for workers, providing a place to take healthy breaks in an environment close to the workplace.
• Healthy places are restorative, uplifting and healing for physical and mental wellbeing.
March has a range of green and blue spaces available to the local community. However, there are a number of areas in which local committees are working to improve upon current provision.
I met with Green Party Councillor, Robert White who sits on the following committees in March - Friends of Rings End Nature Reserve Committee, March and District Woodland Committee and March Wildlife Group Committee. He is also an active member of the March Society. Councillor White explained how these local groups, run by volunteers, are working tirelessly to improve the health of the local landscape. Although they all have their own, individual, areas of focus, their collective remit is to promote an improvement in the current green space provision, to protect and manage existing green spaces and to improve access to current green spaces for all.
Councillor White expressed the importance of making sure that available funding is allocated wisely and that local committees have some input into how this is done. “The long-term goal is to provide a healthier environment for everyone in the local community but, just as importantly, to conserve and improve the diversity of our local flora and fauna. For ‘Global changes begin by positive action at a local level’”. There are a number of projects in the pipeline - news of which will be posted here as details emerge. Watch this (green) space! JC
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