West Worcestershire among best places in England for accessible green footpaths

WEST Worcestershire ranks among the highest constituencies in England for having more green footpaths within walking distance, new analysis has revealed.

Figures have revealed 6,117 meters of green public rights of way are accessible to people in West Worcestershire within a 10-minute walk.

This ranks fifth out of 448 constituencies in England.

Harriet Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, welcomed the positive figures, stressing the importance for people to have access to nature.

“It is wonderful to see research confirming what we all know, which is that one of the many reasons West Worcestershire is a wonderful place to live is that there are so many beautiful footpaths, often with sweeping views of the Hills, neighbouring counties and river valleys," she said.

"Access to nature is crucial to well-being and taking a walk every day has many health benefits. ”

Research was conducted by The Ramblers, a charity for walkers, who researched the extent of green rights of way across England, using satellite observations of land cover.

They found despite the majority of England being green land, many areas, particularly urban ones, are lacking in green routes.

James MacColl, head of policy, advocacy and campaigns at the Ramblers, said everyone should live “within 15 minutes’ walk of accessible green space”.

He added: “We should be working to make our towns and cities some of the best and most liveable in the world by creating green walking routes that allow residents and visitors to experience all the benefits of walking in nature right from their doorstep.”

The Ramblers added that tree planting and other initiatives such as pocket parks in urban areas could be beneficial for those lacking in green space.

Separate figures from environmental organisation Friends of the Earth, show 43% of neighbourhoods in England have less than 10% tree canopy cover, while 84% have less than 20% coverage.

The analysis revealed that 19 neighbourhoods in West Worcestershire, which equates to 32.8%, have less than 10% tree canopy cover.

Further Office for National Statistics data show people in the UK spend less time in nature than before during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than one million fewer people across the UK gained health benefits from spending time in nature in 2022 compared with two years earlier.