Access to trees and greenspaces is consistently low across English cities, according to a new study led by the University of Leeds. Researchers used a recognized three-part framework for measuring tree and greenspace access in urban neighborhoods in Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, York, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and Plymouth, and found that at best, only 2% of buildings in any city region met all three components of the rule.
The study is published in the journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.
The 3–30–300 framework is a tool that is gaining popularity in Europe, but not yet in the UK. It recommends that every house, school, and workplace has a view of three trees, that there is 30% canopy cover in each neighborhood, and that each building has a public greenspace within 300 meters.
The team, made up of researchers from Leeds, University of Edinburgh, Forest Research, and the National Library of Scotland applied the framework to seven English cities, creating a baseline to help identify those neighborhoods needing more work, and to monitor their progress.
