The 2026 Petersfield Green Space Survey has now closed and the results are being analysed
The green spaces and trees in a village, town or city are increasingly valued for the benefits they bring to residents and visitors. Green spaces:
- Provide space for recreation and sport
- Help people keep physically and mentally fit
- Support wildlife
- Soften the urban landscape and provide visual variety
- Allow us to connect to nature and/or memories from the past
- Provide an outdoor space for residents without gardens
As important components of urban greenspaces, trees also offer:
- Shade and cooling
- Traffic noise attenuation
- Atmospheric pollution absorption
- Visual beauty
- Reduction in flood water risk
- Climate change moderation
Petersfield’s greenspaces appear to be widely used by people of all ages, and seem very popular, at least amongst some sectors of the population. However, despite such important benefits, greenspace areas and trees are often taken for granted, and receive less attention than they deserve. The Petersfield Society, supported by Petersfield Town Council, is now working to explore what residents think about the greenspaces and trees in their neighbourhood and the town in general.
The survey closes 17 May 2026
The main purposes of this survey of social attitudes to greenspace and trees in Petersfield are:
- To review, for the first time, attitudes to greenspaces and trees in the town, and the main purposes and the benefits they provide to residents. Views on current and future management options will also be gained, as well as information on potential community involvement in helping to maintain and enhance greenspaces and trees in the town;
- To provide information from the survey to Petersfield Town Council, which they may use to plan work for the management of the Council’s open spaces;
- To make recommendations to, and work with, relevant authorities to harness the potential of members of the Petersfield community if the survey suggest this could be beneficial to both residents and authorities alike.
We are publicising the survey by ensuring every Petersfield household receives a leaflet delivered to their door, and the means to offer their views online. We are also circulating news of it on Shine Radio, Petersfield Post and other media to maximise participation so that that the results will be as representative of the views of the whole community as possible. A Privacy Notice below explains how we will secure the information provided, so that everyone who participates can express their views freely and safely.
Results of the survey will be published by the Petersfield Society later in 2026. We also plan to hold at least one workshop where the community can hear directly about the outcomes of the survey, and discuss their implications for the future enhancement and management of the town’s greenspace.
Greenspace areas managed by Petersfield Town Council
