Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2013

Frequency of Use of Local Greenspace: 2012

Frequency of use by time to walk to nearest useable greenspace (percentage of adults)⁸

Greenspaces are a vital part of the landscape. Having easy access to quality greenspace can improve people's quality of life by increasing neighbourhood satisfaction, promoting mental and physical health (including through its association with increased physical activity), and reducing health inequalities.⁹ It is important to understand the accessibility and use of, and peoples' satisfaction with local greenspace in order to inform the development of policies designed to promote quality of life through enhancing the physical environments Scotland's communities are exposed to and our use and enjoyment of them.

The Scottish Household Survey collects data on how accessible people's nearest useable greenspace is from their home (measured in terms of the time taken to walk there), and how often they use it. In 2012 it identified that 71% of adults in Scotland live a six minute walk or less away from a useable greenspace, 16% live a 7-13 minute walk away and 12% live a 14 minute or more walk away. It also identified that 28% of adults in Scotland use their local greenspace every day or several times a week, 40% use it once a week or less, and 32% do not use it all.

There is a strong link between how far people have to walk to reach their local greenspace and how often they use it. Adults who live 6 minutes or less away from useable greenspace are more than twice as likely to use it every day or several times a week than those who live a 7-13 minute walk away (35% versus 14%), and are almost four times as likely to use it every day or several times a week than those who live 14 minutes or more away (35% versus 9%). Similarly, those who live a 14 minute walk or more from useable greenspace are more likely to say they never use it than those who live a 6 minute or less walk (43% versus 29%).

Source: Scottish Household Survey / Metadata