7.37 Glasgow’s Greenspace Network accounts for over 20% of the City’s total area and comprises public parks, amenity open spaces, countryside areas, local nature reserves and other important wildlife sites, loosely connected by a variety of river valley systems and transport corridors.

7.38 The Network contributes to the health and well-being of the City in a variety of ways. Sites of landscape value, for example, can be important in terms of townscape and local amenity, or can have other visual or ecological significance. They can contain, or consist of, important features such as woodlands, landforms, water features or ecological habitats. Some of these features may be designed, may be natural and/or may contain works of art. Historic gardens, features of designed landscapes and parks also form part of the City’s cultural heritage. The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes, prepared jointly by Scottish Natural Heritage and Historic Scotland, considers that the Necropolis, Pollok Park and Glasgow Botanical Gardens are of national importance. The Green Belt around the City’s edge prevents further coalescence with adjoining communities and provides an attractive landscape setting for the built-up area. Other greenspace designations include 5 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 2 Local Nature Reserves, over 30 Wildlife Sites of City-wide Importance for Nature Conservation, around 40 Wildlife Sites of Local Importance, areas of Ancient Woodland, sites protected by Tree Preservation Orders, and various corridors of landscape and/or wildlife importance (Figure 7.3). Many of these designations either fall within the Green Belt, or overlap with each other.

Pollok Park

7.39 Glasgow’s recreational greenspaces, for example, its parks, sports pitches, bowling greens, play areas, open spaces and allotments, represent a considerable asset, particularly in landscape terms. Unfortunately, this asset is not equally distributed across the City. Inequalities exist in terms of the quality and quantity of greenspace available across the City, restricting the ability of some communities to enjoy safe and easy access to it, particularly as pedestrians or cyclists. Current management rules allow cycling in parks on designated routes.

Figure 7.3: S.S.S.I. and Local Nature Reserves

7.40 The extent of, and inter-connection between, elements of the Green Network is vital to the biodiversity of the City and enriches the urban experience, contributing towards creating a quality living environment that provides opportunities for children and adults to enjoy outdoor leisure. It also helps promote the health and well-being of residents and is an important local education resource. Many of the important features of the Network are wetlands that play an important role in flood alleviation and prevention.