Background
Blue space is defined by the Environment Agency as:
‘Outdoor environments – either natural or manmade – that prominently feature water and are accessible to humans either proximally (being in, on, or near water) or distally (being able to see, hear, or otherwise sense water).’
While research into the health benefits of green space is widespread, evidence for the health benefits of blue space is growing. This evidence is strongest for benefits to mental health and wellbeing. The benefits of blue space are not experienced equally. Approximately half the British population engages with blue space at least once per month. However, people from minoritised ethnic groups are less likely to visit blue space. In England, older people are more likely to visit blue space and younger adults less likely.
Project aims
This short project was funded by the University of Liverpool’s Policy Support Fund, which encourages researchers to collaborate with policymakers to better understand and respond to local, regional, national and international challenges.
The project began with a workshop on 15 March 2024, on urban blue space and public health. It was attended by researchers, policy makers, practitioners and organisations from the VCFSE sector (voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise). A visual representation of the day’s discussion was produced by More than Minutes (below). It confirmed a desire for local collaboration on blue space issues, and suggested many possible areas of focus for research, including:
- Who uses blue space and how?
- Who is responsible for healthy place-making?
- Should blue and green space be treated the same in policy?
Project team
The project is led by Dr Charlotte Lyddon from the University of Liverpool's Department of Geography and Planning, with Dr Thomas Hampton, Research Fellow at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Joanna Hayes from the University of Liverpool's Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place.
Research and findings
Informed by the workshop and a literature review, we carried out a survey at two blue space locations in Liverpool City Region, focusing on urban estuarine and coastal blue space, and analysed the results.
We found that blue space leads to wellbeing outcomes through a combination of factors, influenced by multiple policy areas. Effective policy will be developed from a detailed understanding of how this complex system operates in place, which will vary over time, e.g. because of climate change.
The urban estuarine and coastal blue space in Liverpool City Region is more than its obvious leisure destinations. It can be considered as a series of neighbourhood wellbeing assets – docks, marine lakes and promenades – that link to create an opportunity of city-regional significance for the wellbeing of residents.
For more detail, please see the following documents (also linked on the right under further information):
Policy briefing - PB319
Presentation - Blue space in Liverpool City Region
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