Green Essex Strategy

Closed 5 Jul 2019

Opened 3 May 2019

Contact

0345 603 7631

environment@essex.gov.uk

Feedback updated 12 Feb 2020

We asked

Essex County Council have produced a draft Green Essex Strategy that raises the importance of developing quality green infrastructure and green spaces across Essex to accompany planned growth across the county over the next 20 years.

The startegy was developed an Essex County Council cross directorate steering group and a range of stakeholders

The consultation seeked views and feedback on the draft document in development of the Green strategy

You said

Key Conclusions

931 respondents contributed to the consultation

75.72% of people stated they use green spaces for leisure,  67.34% of people use green spaces for health reasons, 42.64% of people use green spaces for dog walking.

58.21% of people felt easier access of green spaces would increase usage.

52.95% agreed with both the vision and objectives of the Green Strategy

For more information please refer to the reports available via the consultation page

We did

The information received within the consultation is been incorporated in the final strategy which will be published shortly.

Results updated 12 Feb 2020

Consultation reports attached below

Files:

Overview

Essex County Council have produced a draft Green Essex Strategy that raises the importance of developing quality green infrastructure and green spaces across Essex to accompany planned growth in the county over the next twenty years.

Green infrastructure is made up of natural and semi-natural assets and habitat types, of green and blue spaces, and of other environmental features that maintain and enhance ecosystem services. It provides multi-functional benefits integral to the health and wellbeing of our communities and to the ecology and economy of the county. Green infrastructure is often referred to as a network of these natural and semi-natural assets and spaces, which are joined together connecting urban and rural areas and are habitually strategically planned.

Green infrastructure for this strategy includes the following assets:

  • Parks and gardens
  • Natural and semi-natural open spaces
  • Ancient Woodlands
  • Reservoirs, lakes and ponds
  • Coastal features
  • Waterways (watercourses)
  • Greenways (Public Rights of Way, footpaths, cycleways and tracks, byways, bridleways)
  • Outdoor Sport Facilities (Sport pitches)
  • Open spaces and premises (Educational premises open space and sport pitches)
  • Cemeteries and churchyards
  • Allotments, community gardens and city farms
  • Agricultural land and meadows
  • Public realm/civic spaces (urban greenning - urban and street trees, road verges, green walls, sustainable urban drainage and natural flood management)

The strategy aims to take a positive approach to enhance, protect and create an integrated network of high-quality green infrastructure in Essex. Just as importantly, it will help ensure funding opportunities are maximised in the delivery of multi-functional natural assets which will provide a range of benefits, including

  • helping mitigate the impact of climate change
  • improving public parks, play areas and other green spaces,
  • the development of greenways (e.g. Public Rights of Way)
  • enabling active travel and recreational opportunities
  • contributing to the attractiveness of a place to attract new businesses to the area.

 It outlines an approach that requires a change to the way we think about and value our green infrastructure and green spaces.

The Strategy has been prepared by an Essex County Council cross directorate Steering group and a range of key stakeholders have been engaged at various stages to inform the initial consultation version.

Why your views matter

The public consultation is intended to enable you and other stakeholders to provide feedback on this draft Green Essex Strategy and to get an understanding of your use of green spaces. Your comments will help to finalise the Green Essex Strategy, identify priorities and develop the Green Essex action plan, which will be presented to partners and ECC’s Cabinet Winter 2019.

The Green Essex Strategy is available to download using the document link below, or alternatively, a hard copy is available to view at the following libraries;

  • Basildon                                                 
  • Braintree
  • Brentwood
  • Canvey Island
  • Chelmsford
  • Clacton
  • Colchester
  • Epping
  • Harlow
  • Maldon
  • Rayleigh
  • Rochford

The survey will take you 10-15 minutes to complete.

Need help? If you have any queries or problems in responding, please contact environment@essex.gov.uk or call 0345 758 5592

Alternatively, if you do not wish to answer our consultation questions but would like to comment, please email your response to environment@essex.gov.uk

 

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Anyone from any background

Interests

  • Health