Green spaces can shield UK cities from extreme heatwaves and save the NHS millions every year, according to a new report from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA).
Essential infrastructure
The Value of Green Spaces report warns that the UK is “dismantling its natural armoury against extreme weather”. As heatwaves, flooding, and drought become more frequent, the document argues that investing in green spaces is no longer optional but a practical solution to major challenges. The HTA launched the report at Horticulture, The Conference, positioning parks, street trees, and planting as essential national infrastructure alongside housing and transport.
Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, stated that green spaces “quietly work for us every day”. She added that while they cool towns, absorb rainwater, and improve air quality, they are often treated as an afterthought rather than essential infrastructure. The report calls for these spaces to be built into government planning from the start.
Cooling power and health benefits
Following record-breaking heat in recent years and over 2,700 excess heat-related deaths during May and June 2026, the report highlights the cooling effect of urban planting. One large street tree provides the cooling equivalent of about 10 air-conditioning units, while green infrastructure can reduce city temperatures by up to 5°C during heatwaves. Grass surfaces can be 24°C cooler than asphalt, and trees reduce harmful heat exposure by up to 96%.
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The HTA notes that green spaces function as preventative health infrastructure. Evidence links access to nature to better physical and mental health, reducing pressure on NHS services. Time spent in green spaces saves the NHS £148 million annually through fewer GP visits, which is enough to pay the salaries of more than 3,500 nurses. A therapeutic gardening pilot in East Lothian found that patients with mild-to-moderate depression required 67% fewer GP appointments three months after the programme.
A widening gap
Access to green infrastructure varies widely across the country. People living in areas with the most green space live an average of 2.5 years longer than those without. Children who live more than a 20-minute walk from green spaces spend over two hours more time on screens and experience poorer mental health than those within a five-minute walk. Around 8 million people now live more than a 15-minute walk from a green space, with lower-income households and ethnic minority communities disproportionately affected.
Public support for green spaces remains high, with 93% of people saying parks and trees are important in new communities. Despite this, the “say-do gap” is significant. Only 12% of UK adults have planted trees or greenery around their homes, and just 4% have replaced hard surfaces with planting to improve flood resilience. The report identifies 409 square kilometres of private gardens at risk of being paved over in the next five years and notes that public parks lost £690 million in funding between 2010 and 2021.
Call for action
The HTA urges collaboration between the government, local authorities, developers, and communities to protect and expand green infrastructure. The report highlights a disconnect between public support and actual action, suggesting that without deliberate policy changes, the UK will continue to lose the natural defences that protect its cities and residents.
