Nature is good for our health.

Even seeing the green leaves of a natural environment through a window has been shown to have a positive impact.

Spending regular time in nature can help lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce anxiety and improve mood.

Creating more and better natural spaces and protecting and improving those we already have could, therefore, boost our mental and physical wellbeing, delivering savings for the NHS and creating new jobs.

But people need to be able to access these spaces first.

At the moment, many existing neighbourhoods in our area and across the country do not have good access to nature, and when developers do include natural spaces in new developments these are often small, badly planned and not well maintained. All too often, the public natural spaces we have are run-down and unpleasant to visit.

The most disadvantaged and excluded neighbourhoods are the least likely to have accessible nature-rich spaces within a short distance of people’s homes, and the most likely to have parks, waterways and other natural spaces in poor condition.

But improving access to nature is not only good for people: it is also critical for the future of our natural environment.

The Government now has a legally-binding commitment to halt the decline of wildlife by 2030, but much more action is needed. Wildlife is in long-term decline, and BBOWT wants to see people all over our area joining Team Wilder and taking action to help nature - but how can we inspire people to act for nature in communities that are bereft of natural spaces worth fighting for?

As Sir David Attenborough put it, “No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”

This is why, as local elections approach, we are calling on all candidates to make a pledge that they will work to ensure everyone in our area has access to nature.

Local councillors have huge power to help us with our mission to ensure access to nature for all: they decide on planning applications, co-ordinate public transport, create and look after parks and design our town centres.

Practical steps towards achieving our goal could include improving public transport links and accessibility of natural spaces; enhancing existing natural spaces; ensuring council-owned land is well managed for people and nature; creating new parks, nature reserves and other natural spaces - especially in urban areas; working with others to improve access to and availability of natural green spaces, and working with local communities, particularly in urban centres, to deconstruct barriers that have historically excluded them from nature.

Creating new green spaces, especially in nature-deprived neighbourhoods, should help reduce existing pressure on existing natural areas. Of course, in some cases, people’s access to sensitive natural environments will need to be carefully managed to ensure that vulnerable habitats and species can thrive.

It is proven that regular connection with nature helps people to value nature more and promotes pro-conservation action and other green behaviours such as recycling. It is therefore essential to work with communities to deliver natural spaces on their doorstep to be proud of and enjoy, so that they can take pride in looking after them.

Voters: this is your opportunity to demand that access to nature for all is a priority for your council. Please ask your local councillors and candidates to sign the pledge.

If you want to contact your current councillors, you can find details on your council website.

To find out who your local candidates are, take a look at whocanivotefor.co.uk

If you speak to candidates on the doorstep, or if you contact them by email, please ask what they will do to improve access to nature if elected, and ask them to sign our pledge here.

You can also find out which candidates have already signed the pledge here.