Why we need wetlands for all
No one should miss out on the wonder and wellbeing blue spaces provide – it's crucial to level up inequalities in urban spaces across the UK by creating more ponds, streams and other wetlands in our cities.
In Britain, 84% of people live in urban areas – and you may be one of them. If you're reading this, you almost certainly draw comfort and joy from nature, and wetlands will surely be a highlight for you, whether you walk to them, cycle, take a train, bus or drive.
Currently, people in the poorest urban communities are twice as likely as those in more affluent groups to live in neighbourhoods without good-quality blue or green spaces. Various barriers may deprive them of access to the blue and green spaces that could benefit their physical and mental wellbeing.
Whether these barriers are practical, cultural or social, there are unquestionably health and happiness inequalities. And that just won't do. Tackling them to ‘level up’ could give a boost not just to people but also in turning our urban places blue. So, how can it be done?
Making connections
WWT’s Tom Ash is a professional persuader. His job title is Policy and Advocacy Officer, which means he has to face in two directions at the same time. He draws on the relevant skills and experience of colleagues who work with urban wetlands and blue prescribing at London Wetland Centre, and on urban regeneration in Slough and Bridgwater. Then he turns outwards to cajole people in positions of authority – the politicians, councillors, developers, water companies and business people who can make the creation of more urban wetlands happen.
Asked why wetlands are especially well suited to improving wellbeing, Tom replies: “Why does chocolate taste better than broccoli? We can’t exactly say why, but we know it does! We can’t yet pin down precisely why blue spaces boost our mental health, but there’s lots of evidence they do. Research suggests factors such as light, sound, changing patterns on the water and personal associations make us less stressed in aquatic environments."
“We also prefer socialising around water. Leisure activities such as swimming and sailing bring people together, which helps build community cohesion and reduce social isolation. And participants who took part in our blue prescribing for mental health talked about there being so much going on in wetland nature, so many stimuli, they could forget about their problems and escape to another world."
Wetlands of all sizes
"Our aim is to see more blue spaces created and increase the access afforded for deprived communities – these often live in urban areas," explains Tom. "And small spaces can be just as important as large. Even rain gardens and little ponds can make a difference, bringing wetlands to people in towns and cities.”
The latter point is crucial when we come up against hard statistics: one in three of those living in urban areas do not have access to nature within a 15-minute walk. That figure drops to just 3% in Britain’s 200 most disadvantaged communities. Many of the so-called wastelands that inspired David Lindo, AKA The Urban Birder and WWT Vice President, as a child have been paved over by development. And the gardens that fostered his love of nature have shrunk – disadvantaged communities have less than a third of the private garden space of the wealthy.
Yet people need oases to relieve their concrete deserts. Happiness could be a frog in a pond. For those with restricted mobility and means – for all sorts of reasons – wildlife on their doorstep is key.
“It’s imperative that decision-makers consider how to incorporate wetlands into our urban spaces – sooner rather than later,” says David Lindo. “Wetlands could offer national and local Government a win-win situation, helping them reach their levelling up, climate change, nature and health targets all at the same time. It’s time to start thinking smart.”
Blue space for everyone
Wetlands created, problem solved? Not quite. One troubling statistic has barely shifted in more than a generation. While 69% of people from white ethnic groups visit nature locations once a week, that figure drops to just 40% among people from black and Asian ethnic groups. If they are to engage, such groups need to feel a sense of ownership.
Slough and Bridgwater have taught WWT about the need for community-building, involving local people from the start in designing, creating and managing their wetlands, and to draw them in by building on their existing interests – welcoming excluded communities to wetlands through their passion for music, art, or walking, for example, as well as capturing children’s imagination through school visits.
For wavering politicians, Tom talks of using wetland access to indicate wellbeing more widely and make those persuasive arguments compelling: “It’s about quality of life. We can define it as connecting with nature, but there are also wider benefits to society. Through creating urban wetlands we can make cities more liveable, reducing people’s fear of their properties being flooded, and dealing with extremes we now see in summer by cooling cities and reducing drought where urban areas become heat islands.”
Momentum is building towards revitalising urban spaces for the sake of both wildlife and people. Let’s fill our cities with blue and green.
