For many wild birds, our public outdoor places can provide an essential oasis, offering vital food and shelter in an otherwise built-up environment. For people, they are important hubs for socialising, exercise, dog-walking and cultural activities. They also often provide the only accessible place for residents of urban and sub-urban areas to connect with the natural world, something which has been proven to be beneficial for mental health and overall wellbeing.
Public access greenspaces in cities, towns and villages across the UK cover a wide range of habitats, providing a haven for wildlife on our doorstep. The way in which these landscapes are managed also varies, determining which birds, and how many of them, make use of the sites. If we can identify the importance of different greenspaces for birds, and people, we can use the findings to inform management guidance, so that decisions may be made that benefit both.
The project will run during the bird breeding season, from 1 April to 30 June 2026, when many familiar species will be in full song, actively searching for mates, building nests, and raising chicks.
And yet most local authorities see them as a target for budget cuts, Demonstrating the blinkered short sighted priorities of most local bureaucrats. I am always amazed that councils in the UK do not see the benefits to them and the communities they have duty of care to, of maintaining and caring for parks and green space. The knock on effects of setting such examples could be increased crime, increased care needs, increased mental health treatments and so on. All these paid for by local authorities with our money, costing more than simply taking care of parks and leisure spaces.
