Landscaping Written by Owen Baker, technical officer for Policy and Research, British Association of Landscape Industries
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This green and pleasant land
plastic pollution. Consequently, newspaper headlines focused heavily on how the plan would tackle global issues such as climate change, marine pollution and reduction of plastic in packaging. But beyond large scale pollution issues, what is the likely outcome from the 25 Year plan for projects and issues closer to home: housing developments, public open spaces, wildlife areas and air quality? As a landscape professional I was reassured Owen Baker, technical officer for Policy and Research at the to see provision in the plan for initiatives such as green infrastructure standards, tree planting British Association of Landscape Industries, explains what the and green planning principles. Whilst these are government’s 25 Year Environment Plan could mean for local areas already on the radar and being implemented by many local authorities under a different title, recognition in the 25 Year plan will hopefully The offices of the British Association of But what role will the ensure they are given greater consideration. Landscape Industries (BALI) are in Stoneleigh environment play in the future? Connectivity of landscapes is a key theme, and I Park, Warwickshire and, from where I sit, Just as the government has ambitious plans hope the ambitious plan of linking green spaces remnants of Stoneleigh’s link to the once to cater for the growing pressures on existing will benefit both the environment in terms of famous Royal Show are still evident. Sadly, the housing and infrastructure, together with the habitat creation and enhancement, and the pavilions, hospitality suites and bandstands changing needs of business, surely there must public in terms of access, in equal measure. erected to cater for thousands of visitors and also be a wider plan for the environment? It is comforting to see businesses now lie largely derelict, with many Something is needed to mitigate environmental measures demolished to make way for new business habitats lost to changing land mentioned in a plan that ventures. Over the next few months several use and to ensure high quality The suc extends to 25 years and more of the older buildings at Stoneleigh Park green spaces are available beyond - but action will be demolished and a portion of the park to our growing population. of green cess with measurable lost as the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project in Earlier this year the r o and wa ofs outcomes is needed this part of the Midlands gets underway. government launched ll now. Furthermore, A part of me is unnerved by land uses with its ambitious 25 Year heavily s is initiatives must be which I am not familiar – particularly when Environment Plan. on good reliant consistently supported it means losing a part of the natural ‘green’ It was in front of a d e sig implem by each successive environment. I am forced to acknowledge, difficult crowd – a large entation n, government to ensure however, the changing needs of our proportion of the media an mainten ance d a genuine beneficial population; the buildings built today must and commentators had impact. I write this article cater for the growing population, just as been riled by the recent in the hope that all initiatives the HS2 rail link will (hopefully) meet the BBC documentary Blue Planet, are universally supported. transport needs of future generations. which highlighted the issue of
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