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January 2026 Special Feature Professional Groundscare Supplement
Half of UK now lives more than a ten-minute walk from playing fields According to our latest Green Space Index research, a worrying 45% of people in Britain do not have good access to playing fields, despite their importance in supporting our health and wellbeing.
The Fields in Trust’s Green Space Index (GSI), a flagship data tool that tracks the availability and accessibility of parks, playgrounds, playing fields and green spaces across Great Britain, highlight a startling lack of accessibility to sport and recreation grounds, with almost half (45%) of people in Great Britain living more than a ten-minute walk from their nearest playing field.
Good quality, accessible playing fields are also crucial for encouraging social cohesion – for example by giving children and young people a place to exercise together and practise sport – making them invaluable to communities across Britain. While accessible green space provision varies significantly between regions, the GSI findings highlight a worrying
trend. When mapped against the Government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), the data show that the more deprived an area is, the more likely it is to have lost a site, pitch, or parkland in recent years, either through closure or redevelopment. The most deprived areas have seen the highest number of closures when it comes
to recreational sites, with a similar pattern emerging for grass pitches. These sites are essential to community health, social cohesion and environmental resilience, so their loss only deepens inequality further. Tackling this inequality must be prioritised in green infrastructure and planning policies moving forward.
Helen Griffiths, Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, said: “As Fields in Trust celebrates 100 years of protecting these vital spaces, its mission has never been more urgent. “These places must be protected and we remain committed to safeguarding them forever for future generations who deserve the same access to outdoor sport and play that previous generations have enjoyed.”
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British greenkeepers selected for flagship event
With its famous island green and stunning Florida setting, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is considered among the most spectacular golfing challenges in the world, and the chosen BIGGA members will be completely immersed in the hosting of the PGA Tour’s flagship event, with flights, accommodation and other costs included. While there, the greenkeepers will work alongside more
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This year’s findings further compound concerns about easy access to playing areas. Last year’s Green Space Index revealed that one in three children under the age of nine live more than a ten-minute walk from their nearest playground, leaving nearly a third of the youngest generation without easy access to outdoor play.
Access to local green spaces like playing fields is vital to reducing childhood obesity, improving mental wellbeing, supporting economic productivity and creating opportunities for young people, so the findings are highly concerning.
The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and Premium Partner John Deere have revealed the five greenkeepers who will head to TPC Sawgrass to join the agronomy team for The Players Championship 2026.
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than 100 turf professionals from across the globe and g a in ex p e rie n ce o f e lite championship agronomy, which they can bring back to their home venues. The scheme is open to full BIGGA members over the age of 21 and the trip takes place from 6-16 March 2026.
The 2026 BIGGA volunteers are: Tiffany Mills, Ryston Park Golf Club; Stephen van Rhyn, Beaverbrook Golf Club; Andrea Sozio, Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle; Paul Gater, Caldy Golf Club; and Adam Matthews, Minchinhampton Golf Club.
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