Green Space Strategy 2025
Why do we have a Green Space Strategy?
South Derbyshire District Council's Green Space Strategy provides a comprehensive framework for protecting, enhancing and promoting the district's valuable parks, open spaces and natural areas over the coming years.
Context and Challenges
South Derbyshire is one of England's fastest-growing districts, with the population increasing by 20.5% since 2011 and forecast to reach 135,951 by 2043. This rapid growth presents both challenges and opportunities for green space provision. Whilst the district currently has 4.07 hectares of green space per 1,000 people (above the national average), significant deficiencies exist in certain areas, particularly in Stenson, Woodville, Midway, Repton, Melbourne and Etwall wards.
Despite the district's relative prosperity, health challenges persist. Around 22% of adults are inactive, whilst childhood obesity affects one in five reception children and one in three aged 10-11 years. The strategy recognises that green spaces are essential infrastructure that support physical and mental health, tackle climate change, enhance biodiversity and strengthen communities. Research shows that
98.3% of South Derbyshire residents value green spaces for improving wellbeing, with 85.2% visiting weekly or more often.
The vision is:
"To create and protect a resilient, connected network of green spaces that enhance health and wellbeing, strengthen climate resilience, and support nature recovery and biodiversity, ensuring all South Derbyshire communities can enjoy and participate in sustaining a flourishing natural environment for generations to come."
We want to know your thoughts!
Our Strategy is currently in draft form, and out for consultation with our residents and stakeholders. Please take a look at the strategy, and then if you could please spare some further time to complete our survey, it will really help to inform our final version of this document, and ultimately our approach to Green Space Strategy over the coming years.
Click here to take the survey.
