Have you say on future of BCP's parks and green spaces

Residents in the BCP Council area are being asked to help shape a plan on what they would like to see done with parks, woodland, beaches, gardens, street trees, rivers and streams.

All of these areas will be included in the local authority's first ever Green Infrastructure Strategy (GIS).

The strategy will look out how green infrastructure is used and designed going forwards.

It will take into account the way residents connect with green spaces while setting out the principles and priorities for investment and delivery, including the social, environmental and economic benefits.

Bournemouth Central Gardens. Picture by Echo Camera Club Dorset member Peter Hadfield

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Councillor Mark Anderson, BCP Council portfolio holder for environment, cleansing and waste, said: “We are committed to developing sustainable parks, creating green spaces that are more conducive to how we live.

"Over the past year, being able to go outside to our local parks and open spaces has been essential for so many people, helping improve their health and wellbeing and providing a welcome breathing space during extraordinary circumstances."

Cllr Mark Anderson

BCP Council's current ideas in development for the future of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s green spaces include:

• Natural health centres – encouraging everyone outdoors to improve health and wellbeing through nature walks, outdoor mindfulness, practical conservation volunteering and Park Yoga.

• Community food growing initiatives – encouraging healthy eating, reconnecting urban communities with the land.

• Green living rooms – encouraging an outdoor culture by re-imagining our open spaces as green living rooms, providing quirky and interesting spaces for outdoor performances; community cafés; outdoor classrooms and natural play trails for children.

• Green sponges and air conditioning – for managing flood risk and keeping the conurbation cool and the air clean.

• Urban rewilding – creating more wildlife-friendly and less-intensive management spaces to encourage native flowers and grasses that attract pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

• Wildlife gardens – encouraging homeowners and developers to consider wildlife-friendly approaches to gardening to help biodiversity such as bird, bat and bug boxes and green roofs and garden walls.

Picture by Echo Camera Club Dorset member Zoe Smithland at Poole Park

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Cllr Anderson added: "Our towns of tomorrow needs to become more liveable places to help people lead active, healthy and independent lives, which is why the green infrastructure strategy is so important.

"We are passionate about maximising access to our high-quality parks and open spaces while also protecting and enhancing our outstanding natural environment.

"The GIS will inform on everything around us which is why we need to get residents involved from the outset, inviting them to participate in the survey and share their ideas on what they would like to see across these green spaces to help shape our future plans.”

To fill in the survey and share ideas on how parks and green spaces should look in the future, visit haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/green-infrastructure