New research by grassroots charity Your Park Bristol & Bath (YPBB) and the University of Bath has revealed that fears around dogs, safety, and feeling unwelcome are keeping Bristol’s ethnic minority residents from visiting parks and green spaces.

This study is the first of its kind in the UK to explore the social, cultural and emotional barriers to using green spaces. It was commissioned by the charity and delivered in partnership with PhD researcher, Zina Abdulla, from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Bath.

Ethnic minority residents are 40% less likely to use parks and green spaces than white people, despite living closer to them, according to data from Natural England. The study found that while proximity is important, what truly matters is whether people feel welcome, safe and able to use parks in a way that reflects their culture and community needs. Fear of being unwelcome, a lack of community connection and other non-physical barriers, such as fears around dogs, safety, cleanliness and maintenance were cited as blockers to engaging with nature-based activities.

The key barriers revealed by the study were:

• Safety concerns – poor lighting, lack of surveillance, anti-social behaviour and incidents/concerns about harassment and assault.
• Cleanliness and maintenance – broken play equipment, overflowing bins, discarded needles and unhygienic, dirty toilets.
• Dogs off leads – this was cited by older people and children with autism, as well as ethnic minority groups.
• Cultural disconnect – a lack of inclusively designed spaces for social and group activities.
• Age-appropriate equipment – a lack of activities for teens and preteens, especially girls.

Researcher and report author, Zina Abdulla, said: “This study develops what we learned from our earlier study last year, which found that almost half of ethnic minority communities visit their local park just once a month or less.

“Alongside the practical difficulties of getting to these green spaces that some people face, we’ve discovered socio-cultural and emotional factors play an even bigger role in limiting people’s access.

“Whilst improving physical accessibility, basic signage, cleanliness and maintenance, the best way we will help more people to engage with these valuable spaces really is about increasing their inclusivity. That means making them safe, inviting and welcoming for people from all cultural backgrounds.”

To address these, the study recommends a framework that considers both emotional and physical needs, focused around three key areas:

• Provision – ensuring parks exist and are within reach.
• Basic needs – safety, cleanliness, lighting and maintenance.
• Desirable features – inclusive design, group-use spaces, cultural sensitivity and clear signage.

Specific recommendations include reintroducing park wardens, creating dog-free zones, improving facilities for teens and girls and building more inclusive and social group-use areas like large seating and BBQ spaces.

Charlee Bennett, chief executive of YPBB, said: “This study expands our understanding of barriers to green space and sheds further light on what we know – ethnic minority groups are being excluded. The insight reveals that to solve the issue we need to tackle some of the social and cultural barriers as well as physical ones.

“Our main aim as a charity is to create and deliver often simple measures and improvements to our parks and green spaces that ensure everyone can reap the huge mental and physical health benefits they offer – to do that, it’s vital we understand the reasons people aren’t using them.”

Some of the comments from the anonymous participants from ethnic minority groups included:

“I’m scared of dogs and needles... And I am old, and I cannot run away. I like parks, but I never go. I’m too scared.”

“I don’t want to be bothered by dogs; dogs want to play, I don’t.” “It's just depressing, all the equipment is broken. It is already a deprived area, and I have to worry about my son’s safety in the park. I have photos of broken equipment.”

“Bristol is sectorised, I don’t feel comfortable in the mainly white areas.”

"Toilets are dirty in all parks with basins inside the dirty toilets."

The interdisciplinary study was led by University of Bath researchers from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering and the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies. Based in Bristol, the study used a mix of qualitative and quantitative research with a survey of 243 people, five focus groups and a workshop, and has just been published in Nature Partner Journal.

The study was supported by the Bristol City Council Health Innovation Fund and the University of Bath Participate Grant.

To take their findings forward, the researchers are developing a policy brief to guide decision makers responsible for planning, managing and investing in parks and green spaces on the changes needed to help improve their accessibility and use.

Knowledge Exchange Lunch: Rethinking Park Accessibility is a workshop that will present findings and discuss practical next steps with key decision makers. This event is open to anyone with an interest in green equity. It is a free, catered event that will take place at Engine Shed in Bristol on Thursday 19th February. You can also join the event online via Your Park Bristol & Bath’s website.

Your Park Bristol & Bath is also collaborating with Bristol City Council through the Nature Together project to look at developing new ways that communities can improve parks by focusing on the quality measures that matter most to them.