Green Belt is rural land around cities that is protected from excessive housing and other development, thus preventing urban sprawl. Around 13% of land in England is estimated to be in one of the fourteen Green Belt areas. The land is protected by planning and development policies. This survey aims to find out how people think we should use the Green Belt.
The map below shows, in shading, the Green Belt land around Bristol and Bath. The Avon Green Belt stretches over about 270 square miles. That is an area about 5 times the size of the city of Bristol (not including Kingswood or Filton). Development may take place in one or two areas of Green Belt in the coming decades, but even if it does, most Green Belt land will remain undeveloped.
Caption: Green Belt land around Bristol (shown as shading). Click on the image to enlarge.
Politicians and the public are becoming more interested in what we should use Green Belts for in the future. Most of the Green Belt is classed as farmland. In practice, some of this farmland may not actually be farmed, but left idle or for grazing horses.
A small proportion (roughly 10%) of the Green Belt is covered by woodland or parkland. The Forest of Avon has been established to make countryside around Bristol more attractive and easier to enjoy, providing opportunities for employment, leisure and education. The Forest has a team of people that have worked to plant trees, provide green spaces, paths and trails for cycling and walking.
There is also a growing interest in where our food comes from, against a background of concern about global food supplies and interest in buying locally produced food. Much of the Green Belt land around Bristol is very good quality farm land and could be used for food growing much more than it is at present. If local communities show an interest in buying food from the Green Belt, this could encourage landowners to farm their land more actively where they are not already doing so.
To have your say in protecting Green Belt land around London, click on one of the links below:
- Online Green Belt survey (London, 2009) for members of the public and community organisations.
- Online Green Belt survey (London, 2009) for land owners, land managers, professionals and local authorities.
