The Value of Green Spaces report has been launched at Horticulture, The Conference, hosted by the Horticulture Trades Association (HTA).
The report, which stands within the HTA's Value series, following The Value of Gardens (2023) and The Value of Plants (2023), analyses the economic, environmental and health contribution of environmental horticulture to the UK.
Bringing together significant economic, environmental and health evidence alongside new YouGov polling of 2,376 UK adults, the report shows how trees and green spaces can cool towns and cities during heatwaves, reduce flood risk, improve mental and physical health, support biodiversity and help create healthier, more resilient communities.
As heatwaves, flooding and drought become more prevalent, and pressure on the NHS continues to grow, the report argues that investing in green spaces is no longer an optional environmental enhancement but a practical solution to some of the UK's biggest challenges.
Following the UK's record-breaking heat over the past two years and more than 2,700 excess heat-related deaths during May and June 2026, the report highlights the vital cooling power of urban planting. It finds that one large street tree can provide the cooling equivalent of around 10 air-conditioning units, while green infrastructure can reduce city temperatures by up to 5°C during heatwaves. Grass surfaces can be up to 24°C cooler than asphalt, and trees have been shown to reduce harmful heat exposure by up to 96%.
On top of this, green spaces save the NHS £148m annually in GP visits alone. This equates to the salaries of 3,500 nurses, "yet public parks face a £690m funding black hole," says the report.
Fran Barnes, chief executive of the HTA, says, "green spaces quietly work for us every day. They cool our towns and cities during heatwaves, absorb rainwater during storms, improve air quality, support wildlife and help keep us physically and mentally healthy. Yet they are too often treated as an optional extra rather than the essential infrastructure they are." She adds:
"As the government plans new homes, invests in infrastructure and prepares for a changing climate, green spaces must be built into those decisions from the start, not added as an afterthought. Investing in green infrastructure is investing in healthier people, stronger communities and a more resilient UK.”
In light of this report, the HTA and the Gardens Trust have joined forces to create a coalition of organisations across the horticulture and landscape industries to urge the government to make long-term investment in the UK’s green infrastructure a national priority.
