Green Essex

The map shown when you 'swipe' to the right shows 'the percentage of green infrastructure in each local authority area', which varies from 12-14% (light yellow) up to 38-49% (dark green). There is a tendency for higher GI percentages to occur in the south of Greater Essex, with a high proportion above 30% in many authority areas, compared to the lower percentages of authority areas in the north. However, the map revealed when you swipe to the left ('the percentage of productive spaces for each local authority area') highlights the notable differences between the distribution of arable land and pastures (productive spaces) in comparison to the percentage land cover of GI.

The map on the left shows that higher values of GI tend to occur in the authority areas in the south of Essex, partly reflecting the higher proportions of productive space in the authority areas in northern Essex as shown in the map on the right.

These two maps showing the percentage distribution of GI and Productive Spaces clearly emphasises the differences in land cover, historic use and current use across Greater Essex.

Average Distance to Park, Public Garden or Playing Field

Parks, public gardens and playing fields could be seen as valuable to those without access to a private garden. Distance from a park and other public open space is, therefore, an important measure to ensure people can use it easily, conveniently, or frequently. More people will use them if they're within walking distance.

These maps give a picture of the average distance in meters households needed to travel to reach an open greenspace for each local authority area (map on the left) and by place (map on the right). The lightest shade of green represents distances less than 250m, with the darkest shade more than 500m.

It shows that a number of places across Essex have to travel over 400 meters to their nearest park, pubic garden or playing field. This potential could face further challenges from development growth causing fragmentation (increasing distance to travel) or by reducing opportunities to create better connectivity and access to these public open and green spaces.

Average Size of Park, Public Garden or Playing Field

These maps shows the average size of parks, public gardens or playing field within 1km radius for local authority area (map on the left) and by place (map on the right). The lightest shade of green represents sizes less than 10 hectares, with the darkest shade more than, or equal to, 100m.

A significant number of parks, public gardens or playing field across Essex is less than 10 hectares, especially in Tendring. These green spaces face considerable challenges. As shared community assets, they must serve many different purposes and functions and be able to meet different needs to be accessible and inclusive. They must compete with other services and planning priorities for investment to secure new GI provision and for their long-term sustainability.  The Office for National Statistics  found the distribution of parks, public gardens or playing fields is unequal across the England, with many deprived communities struggling to access the benefits which green spaces can provide.

Percentage of households with access to private outdoor space

The Office for National Statistic (2020) found that one in eight households (12%) in UK has no access to a private or shared garden. The map on the left highlights that over 87 percent of addresses in Essex have a private outdoor space (notably Harlow is shown to have less than 85% ). Although through further investigation a number of local authority areas have places with less than 85%, such as Epping Forest, Colchester, Tendring and Rochford as highlighted in the map for parishes on the right.

Average size of private outdoor space

The average size of private outdoor spaces or gardens varies across Greater Essex, with a high proportion of local authority areas having an average size garden between 500 to 749 square meters, as shown in the map on the left. While Harlow, Thurrock and Southend-On-Sea average size garden were less than 249 square meters. This compared with the median of 188 square metres across UK. The map on the right shows the breakdown of average garden sizes in square meters by place (MSOA).

A growth in population and consequent developments combined with competing demands for land use and budgetary constraints, are putting pressure and threating much of our existing local, accessible GI and provision for garden space. Therefore, it is important to not lose sight of the multifunctional and benefits from our GI for the health and wellbeing of our communities, environment and our economy and ensure this is delivered through the planning system.

If you would like to explore further the layers shown in the Green Essex Story Map you can do so at this  web app  created using ArcGIS online.

The maps and information in this Story Map have been generated as part of the following two reports:

•  Spatial data integration and the analysis to support the Essex Green Infrastructure Strategy, ESRC Business and Local Government Data Research Centre (July 2019). 

•  The Essex Green Infrastructure Strategy (2020). 

BlueSky. (2017). National Tree Map. Retrieved from BlueSky Map Shop:- https://www.blueskymapshop.com/products/national-tree-map

Defra (2018a) A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, London.

Defra 92020, February), Briefing Paper, The Agriculture Bill 2019-20, House of Commons Library, Number CBP 8702, 10 February 2020, Retrieved from Government UK,  https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8702/   

Defra. (2018b, February). Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit. Retrieved from Government UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/

uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/684003/future-farming-environment-consult-document.pdf

Essex County Council. (2017). Greater Essex Growth and Infrastructure Framework: 2016-2036. AECOM

Essex Wildlife Trust. (2009). Analysis of Accessible Natural Greenspace Provision for Essex. http://www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk/app/webroot/files/PDF_files/EWT_ANGSt_document.pdf: Natural England.

Forestry Commission. (2002). National Inventory of woodlands and trees: England; County Report for Essex. Forestry Research; Forestry Commission.

Handley, J., Pauleit, S., Slinn, P., Lindley, S., Baker, M., Barber, A. and Jones, C. (2003) Accessible Natural Green Space Standards in Towns and Cities: A Review and Toolkit for their Implementation. English Nature Research Report 526, English Nature Peterborough.  http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/65021 .

Liverpool City Region (2014) Liverpool City Region and Warrington Green Infrastructure Framework: Technical Document.  https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/Technical_document.pdf . 

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2015) English Indices of Deprivation 2015.  https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2015 .

Natural England (2009) Green Infrastructure Guidance. Natural England Report NE176.  http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/94026 . 

North West Green Infrastructure Unit (2008) North West Green Infrastructure Guide Version 1.1. http://www.greeninfrastructurenw.co.uk/resources/GIguide.pdf . 

ONS (2018) Subnational Population Projections for England: 2016-Based.  https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationprojections/bulletins/subnationalpopulationprojectionsforengland/2016based .

ONS (2019a) 2011 Census.  https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011census .

ONS (2019b)  Lower Layer Super Output Area Population Estimates.  https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/lowersuperoutputareamidyearpopulationestimates . 

Taigel, S., Lovett, A. and Sünnenberg, G. (2017) Integrating Spatial Data Sources to Develop a Representation of Green Infrastructure for Local Government. Working Paper: WPS2017-20.  http://www.blgdataresearch.org/portfolio-item/integrating-spatial-data-sources-to-develop-a-representation-of-green-infrastructure-for-local-government/ 

UK-NEA (2011) UK National Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge.

Essex County Council, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH

 environment@essex.gov.uk 

 www.essex.gov.uk 

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