Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Mental Health: Access to Nature

27 April 2021 · 1 other contributor · 3,093 words

Opened by Tracey Crouch Con Chatham and Aylesford

Responding minister: Victoria Prentis

Mental HealthEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Tracey Crouch raised concerns about mental health: access to nature in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the adverse impact of lockdowns on mental health, with 90% of people surveyed agreeing that natural spaces are beneficial.
  • Over 11 million people in England live in areas deprived of local green space, with one in eight having no access to a garden.
  • Asked the Minister to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to align the new zonal planning system with the Government's nature restoration goals.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Minister to ensure that her officials work with those in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to align the new zonal planning system with the Government's ambitious commitments to restore nature. I also urge the Department to put into law a commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Tracey Crouch Con Chatham and Aylesford

I am concerned about the adverse impact of lockdowns on people's mental health. Around nine in 10 people surveyed by Natural England in May 2020 agreed that natural spaces are good for mental health and wellbeing, yet over 11 million people in England live in areas deprived of local green space, with one in eight having no access to a garden. Developers have not always considered local biodiversity, leading to the decimation of wildlife.

Other contributors (1)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Expressed joy at seeing the hon. Member for Chatham and Aylesford looking well, highlighted his own fortunate access to nature on a farm which improves mental health, suggested that various organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds could partner with the Government to ensure people without easy access to nature can engage.

Government Response

Victoria Prentis

Acknowledged the importance of nature for mental health, highlighting initiatives such as the £80 million green recovery challenge fund to support nature-based projects. Emphasised plans to improve footpath access through projects like the England coastal path and a new northern coast-to-coast national trail. Noted efforts to tackle inequality in access to green spaces by developing green infrastructure standards and local nature recovery strategies. Mentioned cross-Department collaboration, including mental health initiatives such as green social prescribing. Reiterated commitments under the Environment Bill for biodiversity targets and environmental protection.

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