Natural England - What is Green Infrastructure?
What is Green Infrastructure?
Green Infrastructure (GI) is a strategically planned and delivered network of high quality green spaces and other environmental features. It should be designed and managed as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities. Green Infrastructure includes parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, allotments and private gardens.
Why is Green Infrastructure important?
Green Infrastructure can provide many social, economic and environmental benefits close to where people live and work including:
Places for outdoor relaxation and play
Space and habitat for wildlife with access to nature for people
Climate change adaptation - for example flood alleviation and cooling urban heat islands.
Environmental education
Local food production - in allotments, gardens and through agriculture
Improved health and well-being – lowering stress levels and providing opportunities for exercise
Green Infrastructure should be provided as an integral part of all new development, alongside other infrastructure such as utilities and transport networks.
Why is Natural England involved and how?
Natural England is promoting the concept of Green Infrastructure as a way to deliver a wide range of benefits for people and the natural environment together. We believe Green Infrastructure should be delivered via the spatial planning system, as an integral part of new development everywhere. It should also form a key part of proposals to regenerate existing urban areas.
We are working with partners in the Growth Areas, Growth Points and proposed Eco-towns to prepare and implement Green Infrastructure strategies and demonstrate good practice on the ground.
Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Guidance
The guidance lays out our position in relation to green infrastructure planning and delivery. Now more than ever before, we must plan positively for green infrastructure. The guidance articulates the importance of early planning for green infrastructure and integrating green infrastructure strategies within spatial planning.
It will be useful to anyone taking forward green infrastructure strategies, plans, policies and proposals in the coming years especially local authorities, developers and other key partners.
You will find case studies 
of some of our recent involvement in green infrastructure work in Green Growth for Green Communities.
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ParkCity Conference 2009
Natural England and CABE hosted this international conference on green infrastructure in March 2009. Find out more and watch video clips of some of the speakers.