Green infrastructure’ is a term used to describe the network of natural spaces and corridors in a given area. Green infrastructure assets include open spaces such as parks and gardens, street trees, allotments, woodlands, fields, hedges and playing fields.

Blue infrastructure refers to the network of lakes such as Marton Mere, Ponds such as within the North Blackpool Pond trail and coastal habitats such as the beach.

Benefits of Green and Blue Infrastructure

Economic benefits

• Economic growth and employment
• Attraction and retention of businesses to the area - creation of attractive environments
• Tourism and recreation - enhancement of economy
• Staff health and motivation - greener living and working environments
• Increased land and property values

Social benefits

• Place-making for family housing and social cohesion
• Increased health and wellbeing
• Providing recreation and leisure assets
• Creation of community resources and a setting for volunteering

Environmental benefits

• Conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, landscape and geodiversity
• Protection and enhancement of cultural heritage and a setting for art
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation

Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve

Marton Mere local nature reserve is a tranquil refuge on the edge of Blackpool. Once the council’s rubbish tip is now a biodiversity hot spot.

It's an important location for nature conservation, quiet recreation and environmental education.

The reserve is a recognised as a site of special scientific interest for its bird population.

More information on Marton Mere

North Blackpool Pond Trail

The North Blackpool Pond Trail brings together a network of 21 ponds, a lake, a reedbed, community orchard, woodlands and meadow grasslands with Kincraig Lake being the largest water body. The pond trail is managed by Groundwork in partnership with Blackpool Council. 

More information on the North Blackpool Pond Trail

Sand dunes

To the south of Blackpool lies 6 hectares of sand dune habitat. Blackpool Council is working in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Fylde Council on the ‘Fylde sand dunes project’

More information on the Fylde Sand Dunes Project

Blackpool’s Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) Strategy is a 10 year approach to protect and enhance the town’s green urban, coastal and rural environments to ensure the social, economic and environmental benefits derived from them are maximised.

The remit of the Strategy is not to safeguard every last bit of existing green space in Blackpool, it is to secure the highest possible quality of spaces. Where a proposed development would result in a green space being reduced in size, the Council will ensure that the remaining green space is a higher quality so that the benefits it provides are more far- reaching than the existing green space.

This Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy and its accompanying Action Plan were developed following comprehensive consultation and review of evidence. We will use the Strategy to guide our actions, large and small, to build a town nationally known for the quality of its open spaces.

Read the Blackpool Green & Blue Infrastructure Strategy [PDF 21.3MB]

• Engaging people in health and well-being
• Enhancing the visitor experience
• Greening housing and infrastructure
• Enabling productive business and workers
• Promoting a green image and culture
• Improving habitats and benefitting pollinators

In order to achieve the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy an Action Plan has been developed to create clear steps to focus on.

• Protect and Enhance GBI i.e. protecting the best and enhancing the rest
• Create and Restore GBI i.e. greening the grey and creating new GBI in areas where it is most needed
• Connect and Link GBI i.e. making the links, improving connectivity and accessibility of GBI
• Promote GBI i.e. changing behaviour, promoting the benefits of GBI and encouraging greater uptake of outdoor activity and volunteering