We all take the local parks and gardens for granted in Scunthorpe, they are just there as we move around the town the open green spaces have become a part of the local view, but do you make as much use of open spaces in Scunthorpe as you should? Parkland is an amenity that need to be used by more people and something to cherish, for in Scunthorpe have extensive open space available within the urban environment. Imagine what Scunthorpe would be like if we built on Central Park, Queens Gardens, Kingsway Park and Manor Park all valuable building land within the central urban area, all the small children’s parks where closed and put to other commercial use, how enclosed life in Scunthorpe might then become, nowhere to exercise, walk the dog, or even escape the mad urban world we have built for ourselves.

I can recall the old Scunthorpe Borough Council Signs, on the entrance to Scunthorpe, declaring industrial garden town. And compered to some other places I have visited we are in fact well catered for in parks, gardens, and open space and we must make more use of them and take a little pride in our green spaces, as they do cost us/you money, they don’t just self-maintain so out of you council tax bill a portion goes to the parks and gardens budget. So get a little rebate on you bill and have a walk in the park.

There a good reasons for using open green spaces, one one is its improves your health, I don’t advocate that everyone starts running around to keep fit, which is one benefit. But much more likely using open green spaces is good for your mental wellbeing, much recent research has shown conclusively that taking a steady walk close to nature can improve you mental state of mind, And improve your health as waking is a good from of exercise in itself. And not as costly as gym membership, and is always open most times.

To quote from some recent recherché in this area,  

• As well as providing opportunities for physical activity,
• parks can aid mental health by reducing stress levels and
• improving quality of life. The annual spend on parks is just
• £600m, which is only just over a third more than is spent
• every year prescribing Prozac to six million people, and
• is a tiny budget compared to the £74.9 billion spent on
• health during 2003-2004. It would be interesting to see
• if the provision of more high quality, accessible and safe
• green space would result in fewer people needing to be
• prescribed antidepressants.
• In addition to their contribution to physical and mental
• health, there is evidence that parks and green spaces
• can improve the health of the nation’s economy. In his
• research paper for the RSPB, Natural Fit (2004), Dr William
• Bird estimated that an urban park in Portsmouth providing
• 20% of total local physical activity could annually save the
• economy £4.4 million, including £910,000 to the NHS.

So do parks work I think so life is Scunthorpe would seem a little drearier without green spaces. And then we have to large open area at Normanby Hall Country Park, again a facility that must be paid for but getting a season pass at around £20 for a family making the prospect of using that area more economical a further factor in family budgeting. The cost of travel to places here we have a faculty on the doorstep within easy reach, and can be used most days. And here we have parkland, lakes, woodland all places to relax and get away from the rigors of everyday life. And given the current situation it can be very rigours indeed, so time about well spent may in fact help you see things a little more clearly, as a benefit to be gained at low cost.

I know living in Scunthorpe can seem a bit poor, sad unappealing but having travel and spent time in other places this is a town that is not so bad, there are things that need improving but the same can be said of most places nowhere is perfect. But living in the deep centre if a large urban sprawling area of bigger cities in not that good atmosphere, where you can fell banished from the outside green world. So a little more pride in what we have in Scunthorpe might not go amiss, we don’t do not have to bad here, given the overall view. And use the open spaces you might just feel better after you have.