There’s very little we enjoy more than being given the opportunity to have a little boast about London. We just can’t help ourselves. So, we’re feeling pretty pleased that the capital has been awarded yet another badge to add to its Brownie sash. This time, for its number of gorgeous green spaces. Can you be-leaf it?
That’s right, folks. Ecological consultancy, Arbtech, foraged through data from the Office for National Statistics to discover which regions and districts in Great Britain truly thrive in the parks and public gardens department. They did the research, crunched the numbers, and revealed that leading the pack (fairly surprisingly) is our beloved capital city.
Proudly claiming the crown; London stands as the country’s greenest region, with an average of 6.74 public green spaces within a 1km radius. Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Islington, City of London, and Camden are some of the particularly verdant local districts in the city.
We all know that in London, you’re never too far away from a Pret. But it just so happens that you’re never too far away from a green space, either. The stats show that the average distance to a park or public garden in London is just 292 metres, with each green spot in the city averaging at around 158,663 metres. Pretty tree-mendous, right?
The North West followed the capital in second place, with an average of 4.91 public green spaces in a 1km radius. The districts of Liverpool, Warrington and Stockport are the North West’s greenest spots. The bronze medal went to the North East, who have an average of 4.45 green spaces per 1km.
Andrew Richards from Arbtech, commented: “It’s interesting to see which areas in Great Britain have the most public green spaces within a kilometre. It’s perhaps surprising to learn that London is the ‘greenest’ region, but 20% of its area is green space and the region has around 3,000 parks”.
The greenest areas in Great Britain
- London
- North West
- North East
- Yorkshire and the Humber
- West Midlands
- South East
- Scotland
- South West
- East Midlands
- Wales
- East of England
So, the next time someone tries to tell you that London is nothing more than a chaotic concoction of expensive pints, packed tube carriages, and big old skyscrapers; you have this piece of green, leafy knowledge up your sleeve. Now, where’s my picnic basket?