Why Lancaster and Morecambe urban green spaces matter – for us and for wildlife

Last month marked a very special milestone. Sir David Attenborough, a true national treasure, celebrated his 100th birthday.

For over 70 years, he has helped generations of us see the natural world differently. From rainforests and oceans to deserts and frozen landscapes, his documentaries have taken us to some of the most remote places on earth. Yet one of the lovely reminders from his work is that nature is not just “somewhere else”. It is often much closer to home.

Sometimes it is in the garden, along the canal, in a local park, on the edge of a footpath, or right here on the shores of Morecambe Bay.

Across the UK, urban green spaces play a much bigger role than many people realise. Parks, gardens, grass verges, trees, allotments and riverside paths all provide important habitats for wildlife. Nationally, 28% of people live within a 5-minute walk of a public park, while 72% live within 15 minutes. These spaces are not just places for people to walk the dog, sit with a coffee or let children run around. They are lifelines for birds, bees, butterflies, hedgehogs, foxes and countless other species.

Here in Lancaster and Morecambe, we are incredibly fortunate.

Lancaster has some beautiful green spaces. Williamson Park is the obvious one, with its woodland walks, open lawns and views across the city towards Morecambe Bay. Then there is Fairfield Nature Reserve, the canal corridor, the River Lune, Freeman’s Wood, local parks and all the small green pockets tucked between our streets and homes.

Morecambe, of course, has something very special of its own. Morecambe Bay is one of the most important coastal ecosystems in the country. Its mudflats, saltmarshes and shoreline support huge numbers of birds and wildlife. Anyone who has walked along the promenade and watched the tide shift will know how alive the bay feels. It changes by the hour, and that is part of its magic.

What matters is how connected these spaces are. Wildlife needs routes to move through, feed, nest and shelter. A park on its own is valuable, but when it links with gardens, trees, hedgerows, waterways and coastal habitats, it becomes part of something much bigger.

As estate agents, we often talk about location in terms of schools, transport and amenities. But green space matters too. It affects wellbeing, lifestyle and how a place feels to live in.

And perhaps Sir David’s greatest lesson is this: nature is not separate from us. It is part of where we live. Even in our towns and cities, it is quietly doing its work, if we give it the space to thrive.