Green Infrastructure assets
Most natural and semi-natural landscape features are green infrastructure, and many can perform one or more functions.
A green spine is made up of trees, green spaces, river valleys and waterways and pedestrian and cycle routes.
They reflect local character, enable wildlife to flourish, offer sustainable transport routes and reduce the impact of climate change.
Urban areas include boulevards, plazas, green roofs and walls. They make attractive settings for shopping and leisure and improve the vibrancy of the local economy.
Street trees and green spaces make settlements more liveable. They provide cooling, shade and cleaner air, and give us spaces for relaxation and healthy living. This creates distinctive places and delivers multiple economic benefits.
Attractive settings encourage inward investment.
They can include sustainable transport, sustainable urban drainage, rainwater collection and waste water cleansing.
They create attractive and distinctive workplaces, contribute to a vibrant local economy, reduce flood risk and climate change impacts and create space for nature.
This can include spaces for relaxation and healthy living, encourage social interaction and food growing, build community cohesion and make the settlement comfortable and liveable.
Green infrastructure can improve property values and reduce effects of climate change through natural drainage, renewable energy use, and building orientation which maximises sunlight.
A community centre could be a sustainable building with a green roof, geothermal heating and cooling, and rainwater collection.
This would help to reduce the effects of climate change and act as a neighbourhood hub. Associated green space could cater for healthy living activities including sports and opportunities to learn and grow food.
Managed coastal realignment reduces risk of flooding, provides potential sites for renewable energy and creates connected habitats for wildlife.
Coastal areas provide opportunities for learning and leisure and deliver economic benefits through tourism.
Country parks are home to a range of accessible habitats and green spaces.
They can be managed so wildlife flourishes and people enjoy using the space for relaxing and active recreation.
They provide learning and employment opportunities through events and jobs such as rangers, green space managers and in education outreach.
Allotments, smallholdings and orchards provide space to restore locally sourced and distinctive food production and to connect urban populations with the rural economy.
They could include opportunities to learn, and apprenticeships in gardening, vegetable and fruit growing, bee-keeping and horticulture. Also they could provide outdoor places and activities that help bring communities together and provide an active lifestyle.
Sustainable drainage systems include attenuation ponds, swales and reed beds to provide natural ways to reduce flood risk, provide temporary storage and improve water quality. Also they create wetland habitats for wildlife in an attractive aquatic setting with additional potential for accessible leisure facilities.
Upland areas can include agriculture, pasture, timber production and timber products, biomass for a local CHP plant and renewable power generation.
These all provide multiple economic benefits and reduce climate change impact. Areas can be used for extreme sports, relaxation and healthy living activities whilst protecting vulnerable wildlife habitats and retaining natural character.