Conservation body calls on PM to give us more access to the natural world
Conservation body calls on PM to give us more access to the natural world
A nature conservation group covering Rotherham has said there is an access to nature crisis.
The comments come as a new report makes demands on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to boost access to nature for all.
Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, part of the Wildlife Trusts umbrella organisation, is calling for action as summer heatwaves and limited green space are causing major problems for people.
The Wildlife Trusts has issued a new paper called ‘Unlocking nature for all: How to increase access to nature for a fairer, healthier Britain’ which outlines how improving access to nature across Britain should be a priority for Mr Burnham’s government.
It follows research suggesting many still do not have parks, gardens or bodies of water within a 15-minute walk of their home, undermining the public health benefits associated with spending time outdoors.
The Trust says that one in five households in Rotherham don’t have easy access to nature, and one in eight households in Sheffield have the same problem.
The Wildlife Trusts proposes that it should be made more affordable for local authorities to use compulsory purchase powers for land purchase and for community groups to buy land.
It also demands that public parks and gardens are well maintained.
It also says that natural spaces should be recognised as a crucial part of development and planning.
Cathy Slater, head of community engagement at the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, said: “Coupled with the extreme heat in urban areas like Sheffield and Rotherham, and a severe lack of green space, our current access crisis is on a par with Victorian Britain’s, the very era that built public parks to combat polluted air and water.
“Our Nature Equity Map shows exactly which of our local areas are cut off from nature today.
“We need Victorian-level urgency and existing laws to bring quick relief to these communities.
“If the Prime Minister promises growth in every postcode, that growth must include nature. Anything less risks creating the first Labour government since World War Two to fail to recognise the importance of access to nature.”
Dom Higgins, head of health and education at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “The mountain of research and evidence from the public that shows the impact of nature on our physical and mental health is hard to ignore - natural spaces in our cities can literally save lives by keeping the air cooler and cleaner and reducing the strain on our hearts and lungs.
“The blood pressure of pregnant women is lower when they live near an accessible park or garden and young children who spend longer in nature-rich spaces have healthier lives.
“Yet, despite the growing body of scientific evidence, having access to the natural world in whatever form that takes – from a river walk to a pocket park in an urban neighbourhood – is still not equal across the UK.
“In an age of increasing climate-driven extreme weather events and growing health implications, access to nearby healthy natural spaces should be the right of every citizen.”
You can read the full paper here: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2026-09/Unlocking-nature-for-all-2026.pdf
You can view Sheffield and Rotherham’s Nature Equity Map here: