The new Bill presented by Liberal Democrat MP, Caroline Voaden aims to establish a Government Office for Green Spaces for the preservation, enhancement, and accessibility of green spaces. The proposed initiative would unlock the full potential of green spaces across the UK, recognising their vital role in economic growth, health and wellbeing, environmental resilience, and climate adaptation.
In support of the Bill, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) said: “Green spaces are essential—not just for our environment but also for our economy and wellbeing. We welcome the opportunity to engage further with the government to ensure they are prioritised and protected. A huge thank you to Caroline Voaden MP for her work in highlighting and continuing to champion these important ambitions for the UK.”
After the second reading, Caroline Voaden said: “While it was great to present my Green Spaces Bill to the House for its Second Reading last Friday, unfortunately, it’s unlikely to continue any further in this parliamentary session. This doesn’t diminish the Bill’s importance nor its ambitions. The UK remains one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and access to nature is declining rapidly despite the well-established benefits it has for our health and wellbeing.
I want to thank the HTA for their support during the development of this Bill, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, Alex Norris, who met with me to discuss the value of what the Green Spaces Bill called for.
He agreed to continue a conversation about the principles and aims of the Green Spaces Bill, and to that end, I hope to organise a roundtable with him and organisations involved in the horticultural industry on how we can ensure the Government prioritises access to green spaces.”