Nearly half of all parliamentary constituencies in England lack adequate access to natural green or blue spaces, according to new research from the Wildlife Trusts. The report highlights a significant shortfall in meeting the government’s target that aims to ensure every resident lives within a 15-minute walk of a park, river, lake, or other nature areas.

The study found that 238 constituencies—representing 44% of the total in England—have at least 20% of local properties situated beyond this 15-minute walking distance to green or blue spaces. Notably, seven of the ten most economically deprived constituencies were among those with the poorest access to nature, underscoring a clear overlap between socioeconomic disadvantage and environmental deprivation.

The analysis comes amid growing concern over the increasing impacts of extreme heat events experienced in England this year, including temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius in some urban areas during the summer. The Wildlife Trusts emphasized the urgent need for cooler, shaded, and nature-rich environments to mitigate the effects of urban heatwaves.

Matthew Browne, head of public affairs at the Wildlife Trusts, drew parallels between today’s access crisis and public health challenges in Victorian Britain. He noted that just as the Victorian era responded to polluted air and water with widespread public park-building, there is a pressing need now for comparable action to improve access to nature through the use of existing legislation and policies.

Despite political commitments, the government has yet to publish its promised green paper on access to nature, prompting calls from environmental organizations for more immediate intervention. The Wildlife Trusts have proposed several measures to the government, including making compulsory land purchase powers more affordable for local authorities, establishing a community right to buy land for nature, recognizing natural spaces as essential infrastructure, allocating dedicated funding for their maintenance, and mandating climate- and nature-friendly considerations in housing developments. They also recommend granting statutory rights of access to major rivers, especially in urban settings.

Public consultations conducted by the Wildlife Trusts, involving around 5,000 participants, reflected widespread recognition of the physical and mental health benefits provided by access to natural spaces. Many respondents highlighted how spending time in local woods or parks helped them cope with extreme heat and improved their well-being, especially those with health conditions sensitive to heat and stress.

Dom Higgins, head of health and education at the Wildlife Trusts, pointed to extensive research showing the positive effects of nature on physical and mental health. He stressed that access to nearby natural environments is increasingly critical amid climate-driven extreme weather and associated health risks. “Natural spaces in our cities can literally save lives by keeping the air cooler and cleaner and reducing the strain on our hearts and lungs,” Higgins said, citing studies linking proximity to parks with lower blood pressure in pregnant women and improved health outcomes in children.

The findings and policy proposals underscore the intertwined challenges of environmental justice, public health, and climate adaptation as England confronts the growing reality of extreme weather and urbanization.