Future London
The role of the natural environment in supporting quality of life in our towns and cities.
There are three core strands to our work:
Many of London’s green spaces were created or safeguarded to serve an obvious purpose: they enhance everyday life through their aesthetic qualities and by providing recreational breathing spaces. Although these services are often taken for granted and they are perhaps not fully appreciated the land-use planning system in London has on the whole been relatively robust in relation to the protection of the green space network. However, a lack of awareness of the true and hitherto unrecognised value of urban green spaces has meant that they are often not designed and managed to reach their full potential. Nor are they evenly distributed, connected or necessarily in the places where they are needed most.
Green spaces are so much more than an attractive part of the urban landscape. They provide a multitude of services without which London simply couldn’t function properly. They are as important to maintaining everyday life as are water supply, roads, flood defence and sewerage systems. A green space can be a park and a playground, an outdoor classroom and a green gym, a sustainable drainage system and a natural air conditioning unit. If well connected, they can be a green transport system and a link to the countryside too.
In an uncertain future climate, with a bigger risk of flash floods, extreme heat events, and generally hotter summers we will come to rely on our urban greenspace even more.
The primary role of Future London is to articulate, advocate and demonstrate the true value of the natural environment in London; to conserve and enhance existing assets and to promote a greening of the urban environment.
To contact the Future London team email futurelondon@naturalengland.org.uk
