The state of UK public parks

The Heritage Lottery Fund has today published its report: State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to risk? This is the organisation’s first report to comprehensively review the condition and management of the UK’s public parks. As part of this report, the Heritage Lottery Fund commissioned Ipsos to run a survey with members of the public across the UK to understand more about the public’s use of parks, and the value they place on them. The survey found that:

• Over 1 in 10 people typically use, visit, or pass through their local park almost every day (12%).
• Over half use, visit, or pass through their local park at least once a month or more (54%).
• Age can be a defining factor, with over 7 in 10 adults aged between 25 and 44 visiting parks at least once a month by comparison (72%).
• Parks are clearly important for families too, with over 8 in 10 people with children aged under 10 in the household using parks at least once a month (82%).
• People living in urban areas use parks more regularly than those in rural areas. 63% of the UK public living in urban areas typically use, visit or pass through their local park at least monthly compared to 41% of those living in rural areas. Furthermore, over three-quarters of people living in urban areas have visited their local park within the last year (76%) compared to just over half of people living in rural areas (54%).
• 68% of park users consider spending time in their local park as important or essential to their quality of life. This rises to 71% in urban areas and 81% for those with children under 10.

Downloads

• Download the full computer tables (PDF)

Technical note

Ipsos surveyed a representative sample of 1,037 adults aged 15+ living in the UK, between 11 and 17 October 2013. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in-home using the Ipsos Capibus. Data has been weighted to the known population profile for the UK. Park users are defined as people who reported that they have used, visited or passed through their local park.