According to the Office for National Statistics, 88% of people in the UK have access to some form of a private outdoor space, whether that is a communal shared space or a private area. With one in eight British households having no garden at all.
The contrast in access to green spaces in and around Leeds varies significantly, and is considerably noticeable when you compare areas closer to the city centre than those that are further out.
While some neighbourhoods in Leeds benefit from both public spaces and their own private outdoor spaces, many residents in other areas lack access to either. With some households in Leeds not having gardens of their own and being far from a public green space or are limited to a small public green space which can get overcrowded and often far too busy.
In Leeds, Hyde Park is the most affected area with only 76% of residents have access to their own private outdoor space. Although, residents of Hyde Park do have access to Woodhouse Moor Park which is a 51 acre park but it tends to be busy as it a popular walk route to the city centre from Hyde Park and other surrounding areas, and particularly busy during term times due to Hyde Park being a very student heavy area so it is often overcrowded.
However, when you compare these numbers to Roundhay park and Slaid Hill you can see a significant difference with 97% of residents having their own private outdoor space and access to a park that stretches over 700 acres of parkland, lakes, woodlands and specialist gardens. The size of this park means it rarely feels overcrowded and residents’ are able to relax.
But Hyde park isn’t the only area in Leeds that’s affected with other places also falling below the national average for private outdoor spaces. In Cross Flats Park and the Garnets 87%, of residents have access to private outdoor space, while in Lincoln green and St James the figure is 86%. Holbeck sits at 78%, and Hyde Park has the lowest with only 76% of residents having their own private outdoor space. While these spaces do offer some residents a green space, they are often busy or too far.
The Office for National Statistics found that areas least likely to have a private garden are most likely to live closer to a public park. Leeds falls fourteenth out of twenty-one for places in Yorkshire’s distance to nearest park, public garden and playing field(m). With the average distance In Leeds being 345.32m to get to a public area.