BLOG: Beyond the Rainbow - Making Green Spaces Truly Inclusive for Everyone
By Garry Campbell, Groundwork’s UK Head of Policy & Communications
Pride Month is a vibrant celebration, a time for visibility, and a vital moment to reflect on how far we’ve come in the fight for equality. As rainbow flags flutter, it prompts us to ask whether this spirit of equality truly extends across all walks of life, including how we interact with our communities and share our common environment. While the promise of equality is cherished, when it comes to equitable access to nature, the reality often falls short. Despite the universal value of these natural havens, specific communities continue to face significant barriers.
Nature is the Gift That Keeps Giving
The benefits of being able to access nature are universal as they’re crucial for our physical and mental health, consistently linked to reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety[1]. For disadvantaged groups, who often have the most to gain from nature’s restorative effects, this disparity exacerbates existing health inequalities. For children, growing up near green space is even linked to better development and reduced chronic stress[2]. These spaces also serve as vital social infrastructure, fostering connections and strengthening community life.
But Some Groups Have Less Opportunity to Enjoy That Gift
While these broad benefits apply to all, we have substantial evidence detailing how certain groups face specific barriers. For example, minority ethnic communities are disproportionately affected by a lack of private gardens and often live in areas deprived of green space. Indeed, nearly 40% of people from ethnic minority communities in England live in the most green space-deprived neighbourhoods, compared to only 14% of white people[3]. This often means the green spaces available are of poorer quality and perceived as unsafe, contributing to ethnic minority communities feeling excluded. This is reflected in the fact that only 26% of people from minority ethnic backgrounds spend time in the countryside compared to 44% of their white counterparts[4].
Similarly, people living with disabilities frequently encounter significant physical hurdles, from uneven paths to a scarcity of accessible facilities[5]. Girls and women, too, report feeling unsafe and unwelcome in parks, leading to lower usage compared to boys and men[6]. Over a quarter of young women report feeling unsafe to go outdoors, and Girlguiding surveys highlight that sexism is experienced by the majority of girls aged 11-16 in public spaces[7]. This contributes to startling statistics like the ONS data revealing 82% of women feel unsafe in parks after dark, compared to 42% of men[8].
Mind the (Data) Gap: Here’s What We Don’t Know
However, when it comes to LGBTQ+ experiences in green spaces, concrete, national-level data is conspicuous by its absence. This isn’t necessarily because issues around access don’t exist, but often because official data collection has historically overlooked sexual orientation and gender identity in public space surveys. We know from some surveys that LGBTQ+ people feel less safe spending time on the streets in their neighbourhoods[9], and our experience tells us that if someone doesn’t feel comfortable in their neighbourhood, they won’t feel comfortable in the green spaces in that neighbourhood.
Although we might all recognise these injustices, the absence of robust data carries implications. Without it, any barriers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in green spaces remain largely invisible to policymakers, urban planners, and park managers. We can’t effectively address what we can’t accurately measure or understand. Without this crucial insight, LGBTQ+ communities will continue to miss out on vital physical, social, and mental health benefits from green spaces, thereby compounding existing health disparities within the community[10].
Youth Voices: the Need for Inclusive Green Spaces
We asked members of our Youth Advisory Board for their perspectives on what makes green spaces genuinely welcoming. Their insights powerfully illustrate the need to move beyond mere access to creating environments where everyone feels safe, seen, and able to thrive.
“When green spaces are only designed for the ‘default,’ they quietly exclude so many of us. What we need are spaces that don’t just accommodate us but welcome us—where we can gather and thrive.” This sentiment underscores a fundamental need for design that considers the full spectrum of human experience, not just a perceived norm.
Another comment highlighted the critical components of true inclusion: “If we want truly inclusive green spaces, we have to ask: who gets to feel safe here? Who gets to feel seen? Who gets to just exist without fear or performance? Inclusion means more than access—it means comfort, belonging, joy.” Their words remind us that emotional safety and belonging are just as vital as physical accessibility.
For many, nature offers a unique solace, but even this can be compromised when spaces don’t reflect diverse identities. As one comment shows: “So many of us in the queer community grew up feeling like we didn’t belong anywhere. For me, nature was a place where I felt held. But even that solace can feel fragile when parks don’t reflect our presence, or when our safety isn’t part of the design.” This speaks to the profound impact of design choices on individual well-being.
Another comment encapsulates the challenge of intersectionality and offered a forward-thinking solution: “People’s lack of understanding becomes a barrier. If you don’t know much about environmentalism or LGBTQ+ issues then you’re never going to create a space for both to belong. Intersectionality is complicated for people to understand and in turn they keep the issues separate. Unintentionally this creates an idea that communities can’t possibly focus and understand both issues. We could create positive change by embracing both of these issues with bringing LGBTQ+ inclusion to the forefront of volunteering events that promotes environmentalism.” This highlights the vital connection between awareness, integrated approaches, and practical initiatives for real change.
Ultimately, their collective message reinforces a crucial truth: “Nature is not neutral. It’s shaped by the systems that govern access, care, and design. If we want green spaces to be truly inclusive, we must listen to the stories of those who’ve been left out and build with intention.” This call to action is a powerful reminder that creating inclusive green spaces requires a conscious, empathetic approach rooted in genuine listening.
Are we Designing in the Dark?
At its heart, this isn’t a question of special dispensation for some and not others; it’s about equity. It’s about fairness. If we can agree green spaces are a public good, then it follows we should also be able to agree that everyone should have an equal opportunity to enjoy them.
By collecting solid data, those responsible for planning the spaces that connect us can design them in a way that’s truly inclusive, helping to knock down social and cultural barriers and make sure our parks are genuinely welcoming, safe, and beneficial for everyone.
Notes to editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk
References
[1] White et al., 2020 [2] Engemann et al., 2019 [3] Friends of the Earth, 2020 [4] Friends of the Earth, 2020 [5] Country Living UK, 2021 [6] Girlguiding, 2020; Make Space for Girls, 2023. [7] Girlguiding, 2024 [8] Office for National Statistics, 2022) [9] The Walking and Cycling Index – Sustrans.org.uk [10] Stonewall, 2018 Health Report