Parks and green spaces have a range of benefits and should be seen as essential infrastructure, alongside roads and railways. COVID-19 demonstrated the importance of parks and green spaces and resulted in a huge increase in the number of visitors. This mainly reflected the proven physical and mental health benefits that parks provide by creating opportunities to connect to nature. However, they can also make significant contributions to tackling climate change through carbon capture and can help strengthen local communities via local Parks Friends Groups and providing places for community activity.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough GreenGround Map represents the parks and green spaces within five key urban areas, including Cities Cambridge, Peterborough and Ely and the Towns of Huntingdon and Wisbech. By drawing on the river, railway and trail themes as key lines, the map clearly shows the accessibility of parks and green spaces for everyone to enjoy. For example, the map includes the Hereward Way walking route, which passes through Peterborough and Ely to reach the Breckland Heaths on the Cambridgeshire / Suffolk County boarder. Also, the Rothschild Way walking route from Woodwalton Fen in Huntingdonshire to Wicken Fen in East Cambridgeshire, covering a distance of 39 miles.

This is the first urban and rural GreenGround Map developed by Graphic Designer Helen Ilus, who previously focused on more urban settings to develop a network of parks and green spaces and promot the many benefits that are offered.

The map presents these precious spaces as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s very own local ‘National Park’ offering a wide range of outdoor experiences that are good for people and good for nature.