Greenspaces are the 'green lungs' of our towns and cities. They contribute to improving people's physical and mental health by providing places for informal recreation. Ensuring all communities have adequate provision is high on the agenda and a range of 'target standards' have been prepared. For example, 'every household should have some form of natural and accessible greenspace within 400m'.
Working with a number of local authorities, under a project led by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and part funded by the Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Programme, exeGesIS were able to build comprehensive and consistent greenspace datasets - making good use of MasterMap data, aerial imagery and workshops with authority staff. This dataset was used to assess whether the target standards were met. Network analysis techniques were employed to ensure the shortest walking distances from every postcode area, to the nearest greenspace could be identified and measured.
The results showed that whilst the total area of greenspace in the region was generally high, it often wasn't near to, or accessible from the residential areas. Because of this even in the best served area, some 25% of the population fell outside the 400m target.
Further information about the Greenspace project can be found here.