Greenkeeper | Ecosystems Knowledge Network

Overview

Description:

Greenkeeper is an online tool, developed to support investors and managers of urban greenspace. It uses big data and research, to model the environmental, economic and social value of green infrastructure, enabling the user to identify the complete value of a single green space or compare it with other similarly sized/local spaces. By collating these insights, it can also be used to build a whole portfolio or city-wide green infrastructure network value.

The model that sits behind Greenkeeper can also be used as part of a consultancy service, to help fully assess the impact an intervention may have on this value. By interpreting the outputs of the model, the tool can help make more informed investment and management decisions.

Input:

Input data is provided internally by the tool

Output:

Maps

Tables / statistics / reports

Economic assessment

Scale:

Site scale

Local scale

Cost of the tool (and guidance):

Fee (consultancy service)

Context:

The online subscription tool only currently covers existing urban greenspaces, but the model in the background is being utilised to test proposed greenspaces in urban environments and new settlements.

Resource requirement (software):

Access to the internet. Recent versions of Internet Browser, ideally Chrome or Firefox.

Level of technical expertise required:

Internet use skills

Types of ecosystem service included:

Regulating

Supporting

Cultural

Habitat type (UK NEA habitats):

Semi-natural grasslands

Urban

How does it work?:

To deliver a tool which can map and measure the value of urban greenspace across England, Scotland and Wales, the Greenkeeper team researched, interpreted and applied a number of national data sources and applied these as layers of information to an interactive base map. Greenkeeper processes all this data through a demand model, which is then able to estimate recreational visits to any urban greenspace in England, Wales and Scotland. It then uses the recreational visit numbers and applies a series of valuation methodologies, to estimate the benefit to individual visitors (physical health, mental wellbeing), local populations (local value) and global populations (carbon sequestration), translating this into monetary terms.

Where can I get it?:

http://www.greenkeeperuk.co.uk/ provides further information and access to the subscription platform

Case Studies

Number of case studies in the uk:

Four published on the website. Numerous subscriptions and commissions now in train.

Examples of case studies in the uk :

St Albans Urban Intensification Bid:

Greenkeeper has recently been used to support the proposed development of three urban, Local Authority owned sites in the London Borough of St Albans. Appointed by Taylor Wimpey to support their bid for the sites, the Greenkeeper team used the tool to provide insight on existing greenspace provision in the area and set out how this could influence and inform greenspace strategy proposals, to deliver strong social value for the area. Located within close proximity to three existing urban parks, the three sites have a good degree of existing greenspace to draw upon, but how well were these spaces performing? How would they be affected by development? How might the greenspace strategy and investment respond to the increase in population and deliver better social value for the wider community?

A baseline review of the three nearby greenspaces using the Greenkeeper tool (figure 1), quickly demonstrated that one of these spaces was significantly under-performing. Greenspace 1 is a key regional park for this town, which should be attracting a strong number of visits and delivering good value for the people in the surrounding communities. In reality however, despite being of a similar scale, it is securing only 1/5 of the visits (49k visitors) of the other two and valued at only £1.2m as a result.

More info: http://www.greenkeeperuk.co.uk/st-albans-case-study/

Thamesmead: Informing growth for a place with unrivalled space:

The Greenkeeper team joined a group of consultants in 2019, to review the extensive, yet under-utilised greenspace provision across Thamesmead, applying the tool to inform and support change, addressing questions such as: What is the baseline current value that Thamesmead’s existing greenspaces currently provide? What is their growth in estimated visitors and value, given the proposed development and new residents? How could this value be used to inform a strategy for enhancement and re-provision as the masterplan for development advances?

To do this the team used their Greenkeeper estimates, to understand the value Thamesmead’s current greenspaces, if they were to remain as below average performers, for greenspaces of their scale, but the population local to them were to increase 3-fold.

More info: http://www.greenkeeperuk.co.uk/thamesmead-informing-growth-for-a-place-with-unrivalled-space/

Detailed information

Key data sources:

Monitor if Engagement with the natural environment (MENE) - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/monitor-of-engagement-with-the-natural-environment-survey-purpose-and-results#history

Original purpose:

The tool has been designed to offer an easily accessible online platform for investors, developers & managers of urban greenspace to better understand how well their asset is performing from a social, environmental and economic perspective. It enables operators to build a view of a portfolio of assets, compare them with other similar greenspaces and prioritise areas for enhancement.

User groups:

Local Authorities – Park managers, planning and health teams
Developers and investors
Local communities and Park Friends
Advisory Bodies

Original geographic scope:

England, Wales and Scotland.

Terrestrial, freshwater or marine focus?:

Terrestrial

Specific ecosystem services modelled:

Carbon sequestration
Physical Health & wellbeing/Recreation

Datasets (required):

Provided by the tool

Datasets (optional):

N/A

Time requirements:

Low

Estimated working days to complete a project:

A few seconds to a few hours depending on the question.

Tool accessibility:

The tool is sold on an annual subscription basis. To model potential change, a consultancy fee is charged based on a flat rate.

License information:

An annual subscription is required for access to Greenkeeper. This will provide unlimited access to the platform and to download information within one IP address.

Current version:

Live version – the software is not listed.

Updates:

The tool will be updated annually, based on changes to OS mapping and other core data sets. The next Update is due in July 2021. Any subscribers will have automatic access to the upgrades due to it being web hosted.

Technical support provided?:

enquiries@greenkeeperuk.co.uk

Developer (organisation):

Developed by Vivid Economics; Barton Willmore; The European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH) at the University of Exeter Medical School

Developer (organisation type):

Private sector
Academic

Developer (individuals):

Robin Smale; Therese Karger-Lerchl; John Haxworth; Richard Webb; Jenni Montgomery; Dr. Rebecca Lovell

Primary contact:

enquiries@greenkeeperuk.co.uk – this inbox is monitored by both Vivid Economics and Barton Willmore leads.

Publications:

Velocity Magazine: Issue 5

Architectural Design Magazine: Social Value in Architecture; July/August 2020; profile No. 266

Number of case studies outside the uk:

None

Examples of case studies outside of uk:

N/A

Tool limitations:

Biodiversity – the tool does not currently cover biodiversity valuation due to the lack of a reliable, mapped, UK wide data source which could be fed into the model
Non-urban areas – Currently the subscription tool covers over 20,000+ urban greenspaces located within 149 built up areas in England, Wales and 5 localities in Scotland, as defined by the Office of National Statistics. Areas out with this classification are not covered by the subscription model but may be possible to review via the consultancy service.
Green streets and roofs– Currently the tool is not sufficiently granular to identify green streets or roofs due to the challenge around accessing accurate mapping of these assets and their quality across the urban areas covered.
Beaches – As non-greenspaces these lie outside of our capabilities with the tool, despite the worth we know they offer in terms of mental health and wellbeing and significant physical health opportunities.