Preston Pedals
- March 2025
Reclaiming the Commons
Reclaiming the Commons
Improving access to – and ownership of – greenspace within our most deprived communities
- Lead Member Active Wellbeing Society
- Categories Community
- Assets Download Case Study
Principles met
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Co-production
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Community leadership and a new role for councillors
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Democratic engagement
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Learning
The disruption and change in our day-to-day lives, over the last few years, has created an opportunity for communities to rethink and reimagine how we engage with the public realm. As people became better acquainted with their local parks and canal paths, and streets were transformed for outdoor dining and activity, we began to see the benefits of doing things differently. At the same time, the inequalities that have been so starkly illuminated by the pandemic, are yet again reinforced in the inequitable access to good quality outdoor and greenspace across our cities.
In Birmingham, where over 40% of the population live in the most deprived households nationally, access to greenspace is amongst the lowest per person in the UK. Over the last year TAWS have been working with Birmingham City Council and the Birmingham Growing Network to redress this inequality and improve access to – and ownership of – greenspace within our most deprived communities.
For further information contact:
Amit Dattani
Assistant Director of Food, Sharing & Growing
The Active Wellbeing Society
