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Plenary, 12 Dec 2007

12 Dec 2007 · S3 · Plenary

Item of business

Woodland and Green Spaces

FitzPatrick, Joe SNP Dundee West Watch on SPTV

I agree with the minister that the environment plays an important role in ensuring good health among our constituents. That is equally true in rural and urban constituencies. Members will not be surprised that, as I am an MSP for an urban constituency, I think that green space and woodland are most valued in urban areas.

I grew up on the Dundee housing estate of Whitfield, which is in the constituency of my colleague Shona Robison. It was known in the citizens band radio community as the concrete jungle—a place where green space had been given little, if any, regard in early planning. I am pleased that we have learned much from the mistakes of the past and that describing Whitfield as a concrete jungle now would be wrong. We have a much greener new Whitfield.

The importance to health of access to good-quality green space cannot be overestimated. Not just physical health, but mental health can benefit from green space. Green space is of great benefit to people who live in cities such as Dundee. Evidence is emerging that access to high-quality green space can reduce stress, provide an opportunity for physical activity and build community spirit.

Deryck Irving, who is the senior development officer for Greenspace Scotland, has said:

"Research has shown that access to appropriate, good quality greenspace can have a positive impact on both mental and physical health. Equally, a lack of access to such greenspace can have a negative impact on mental and physical health and well-being."

In 1980, 12 per cent of Scotland was covered by woodland. By 2006, that figure had risen to 17 per cent. The aim is to increase that to 25 per cent, which will result in an additional 650,000 hectares of woodland throughout Scotland. I am sure that we all agree that we should aim to travel in that direction, but the placement of our new woodland must be well thought out.

RSPB Scotland has expressed concerns about that and has stressed the importance of developing new woodland, because inappropriately locating new woodland can damage wildlife. I seek reassurance from the minister that careful planning will be involved in aiming to achieve the target of increasing forestation so that it covers 25 per cent of Scotland.

A number of green space projects in Dundee have enjoyed success. The Baxter park restoration project, for example, revamped and cleaned up that park and installed urban rangers to engage with the public, and the Middleton community woodland project in my old ward has created a community woodland on an area of land adjacent to the Whitfield housing estate. That project has been successful in engaging young people from Braeview academy, local youth groups and community organisations.

One of the most successful projects in my constituency of Dundee West has been in Ardler—I refer to the Ardler in bloom project and the Ardler Environmental Group. In 2004, when the Ardler estate was newly finished, a local gardening competition was set up to encourage residents to grow their own plants and take pride in the environment. Many residents of the new village of Ardler had moved from multistorey flats that were demolished, so they had no experience of owning their own garden. The project supported those residents in their new gardens, and it has continued. The Ardler Environmental Group, which has also been supported by the urban ranger project, was established with the aim of making the area more attractive to wildlife and local communities. The people involved in such projects played a large part in Ardler estate winning a British Urban Regeneration Association award for best practice in regeneration in 2006 and the Queen's award for voluntary service this year.

Good-quality green space can be the cornerstone of the economy. Last month, I spoke about Camperdown country park, which is Dundee's top attraction. It has 400,000 visitors every year and is home to the Camperdown elm and Scotland's last city-based red squirrel population. It is a huge asset to the people of Dundee. In 2006, it managed to play host to Radio 1's big weekend festival. It has been estimated that that festival boosted the local economy to the tune of around £10 million.

All our constituents would benefit much from improved access to green space and woodland. There should be an holistic approach to community regeneration, as there has been in Dundee, with green spaces properly planned.

I urge members to support the motion.

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Plenary, 12 Dec 2007

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