Blue spaces are accessible bodies of water like rivers, lakes and seas and studies have shown they are just as good for us as green spaces. Some studies suggest they are even more beneficial as many blue spaces are within green spaces, so people get the best of both when spending time in them.

  Historically, big towns were always situated near water sources, like the coast or inland bodies of water. Water is life after all and we have it in every cell of our bodies, so it’s no wonder we are drawn to it.

  Studies have shown that even a pretty view of water from a window can improve our mood, and that people living near the coast not only live longer than those that live inland, but also reported that they were more satisfied with their lives.
  Like green spaces, blue spaces can reduce stress and tackle mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Visiting blue spaces often can also combat some illnesses like certain cancers, dementia and cardiovascular disease, which can be caused by a lack of exercise. There is also evidence to suggest that blue spaces can help people who are suffering with chronic health conditions to manage them.

  This is because blue spaces encourage physical activity, whether that means going for a walk along a beach or taking part in watersports. Wild swimming is becoming more popular too and is not only free but also invigorates the body and mind and is shown to reduce fatigue, while bringing those who partake in it closer to nature.

^{Getting out for a stroll along the canal can have health benefits} 

Another reason is that blue spaces are pleasing to our senses. The rustling of leaves around a lake, the sound of a flowing river or the salty tang of the sea create a calming atmosphere that people enjoy.

  Blue spaces can also strengthen social relationships as they’re the ideal place to spend time with friends. Watersports clubs are available in some places, offering a range of activities; perfect for making new friends and helping those who may be lonely or lack confidence.

  One study explored how spending time in blue spaces affects children and found that children who spent time at the beach were reported to have fewer emotional problems than children who didn’t. A further study found that children who lived near the coast were less likely to be obese than children who lived inland. This suggests the activities that take place in blue spaces are positive for our physical health.

   Wildlife flock to blue spaces too, which is a positive for the environment. Water sources have their own ecosystems which improve biodiversity, positively affecting things like pollination, the climate, food security and disease resistance, while providing a home for the wildlife we love.

The Canal Age 

Blue spaces don’t have to be naturally occurring either and man-made water sources are just as good for our health as the ones that nature intended. In the UK, we are lucky enough to have a network of man-made blue spaces that link many of our towns and cities together.  Canals have existed in the UK since the Romans arrived, but before the 1700s, they were few and far between, and were only used by wealthy landowners in the south. That was until The Industrial Revolution when business owners saw a need to be able to ferry their goods in a more convenient and economical way. As a result, the canal age was born in the late 1700s and there was a boom in canal building and in the businesses that used them.

  The canals were bustling as horses pulled long narrow boats full of cargo up, down and across the country. The boats carried textiles, raw materials, parcels and coal, amongst other things. Industries were improved by this method of transportation. Compared to horse-drawn carts and carriages, the boats were safer, quicker and could carry a much heavier load. The canals were also easier to travel on than the roads which flooded and were full of potholes. Swifter and easier transport meant that prices went down, such as coal which halved in price as soon as the famous Bridgewater canal opened.

  Canal mania grew until there were over 4000 miles of canals in the United Kingdom. That was until the railway network was created. Trains could carry so much cargo, there was no competition, and although canals were still used in remote places that trains couldn’t reach, the roads improved too and this was the end of canals as in industry.

  The prettier canals became places of leisure, but many of the urban ones were neglected and used as dumping grounds. In more recent years, an effort has been made to tidy them up and turn them into beautiful blue spaces that will benefit local communities. Recent studies have shown that compared to visiting green spaces, those visiting canals had higher levels of well-being and the way they are designed, like long, watery corridors passing through our towns, helps wildlife and plants to spread.

SAFE Regeneration and the Lock and Quay

I visited SAFE Regeneration Ltd, a not for profit, community-led organisation in Bootle who were given a stretch of canal by The Canal and River Trust. After sprucing it up, they use the canal, and their community pub the Lock and Quay, to help create a happier and healthier neighbourhood.

`^{The outside of the Lock and Quay Community Pub}

 

It all began in the year 2000 in Toxteth, when a group of artists started up Liverpool Safe Productions Ltd, to engage the locals in art projects. In 2007, their rent increased so they relocated to Bootle, where they gained visibility, going from strength to strength. In 2015 they took a new direction focusing on regeneration, changed their name and became a registered charity. Now they offer a wide range of services to the community, holding events which raise money that goes back into the area and empowering local people with their own ideas, and helping them bring them to life.

  Jane Dawe, the director of partnerships at SAFE showed me around their base in a former primary school. There are thirteen social enterprises operating there, including a carpenter and a brewery…which is extremely handy for the community pub next door!

  The Lock and Quay pub was originally a pop-up event, but it was so successful that it didn’t pop down again. It came about because the locals wanted a pub and because SAFE really listens to what the community wants, they accommodated them. Now it is at the centre of this fruitful social enterprise. The pub brings people together, and ideas are encouraged there, with customers able to have a say in events, all while sipping a pint of locally brewed beer. If somebody wants to put on their own festival or event, SAFE will give them the tools to do so.

^{The inside of the Lock and Quay Community Pub}

  The pub is cosy and friendly, and you won’t hear the football blaring from any televisions. Jane said they wanted it to be a place for music and conversation so there are instruments for customers to play instead. Jam sessions, festivals and gigs are held there frequently, as well as Cheese Club which brings people in from other parts of Liverpool.

  The proceeds from all of these get-togethers goes back into the pub, the community and into holding more events, therefore raising more money. They are also a chance for SAFE to get feedback from members of the community, whose opinions are crucial in making the whole operation work.

  Outdoors there is lots of space, with a marquee for weddings and funerals, an outdoor bar, a field and a garden with raised beds for those without gardens to grow their own vegetables. There is a large outdoor seating area and of course, the canal for water-based events and activities.

  The canal is part of the Leeds to Liverpool canal, the UK’s longest. Before the Lock and Quay was reopened, and was sitting there forlorn and empty, this part of the canal was used for dodgy deals and fly-tipping. It was dark and lonely, and people were too intimidated to go there, but when Jane and her colleagues started tidying it up, the fly-tipping and littering stopped. When people benefit from blue spaces they are more likely to look after them.
  Pedestrians and dog walkers now use the canal, and colourful murals designed by the local children decorate the walls. During my visit, there wasn’t a speck of litter in sight. This is thanks to Jane and her husband  Brian who is the CEO of SAFE. They both love canoeing and started the Bootle Outdoors and Canoe Club, who meet regularly and often take litter-pickers out with them when they paddle.

  Using urban canals for watersports is brilliant for communities who might not have access to these activities. They’re more common in the countryside or on the beach, and can be difficult for those without cars to get to. Clubs like this are a chance for people to get out and do something a bit different near to home, all while getting exercise and mental stimulation.  Access to blue spaces captures the imagination for community organisations in a way that green spaces might not, because more unique events can be held on the water.

  While the River of Light was happening in Liverpool at the Pier Head, SAFE held their own Canal of Light, where a dazzling procession of glowing boats and lanterns floated down the canal. A glittery dragon was at the helm, snapping its jaws and letting out jets of steam as it glided through the water, and after the spectacle, everybody gathered in the pub.
  A few nights later there was another event for Bonfire Night, The Big Bang, where the same dragon lit the bonfire with its breath, and afterwards, everybody gathered in the pub again.

^{The Dragon from the Canal of Light}

  In December, Bootle Canoe and Outdoors Club will take part in the final event of the year with the Santa Splash, when thirty-six paddlers will don Father Christmas suits and beards and cruise down the canal. The Santa Splash is not a race, but still manages to be competitive as they paddle 2.1 miles down the canal. There’s Christmas music, decorations, mince pies and food, live music and a community party…all in the pub of course! The event is free and so popular that all thirty-six places are taken way in advance.

  All of these events bring people together to socialise and improve both physical and mental well-being. They also bring more custom to the pub, whose profits go straight back into the community, so it’s a win-win situation for everybody.
  Next on SAFE’s agenda is an inclusive and affordable housing estate which Jane is currently trying to get permission for, as well as a new headquarters because the former primary school is falling into disrepair. A water taxi service is another idea in the pipeline, which would ferry football fans to the new Everton FC ground.

  But the best idea of the lot is the toolkit that SAFE plans to offer to other communities. This will provide other people with the skills, confidence and knowledge to get their own community-led enterprises off the ground and make them as special and as full of passion as the one that SAFE has created.

Sources:

https://saferegen.org.uk/

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8792750/ - The Regeneration of Urban Blue Spaces: A Public Health Intervention? Reviewing the Evidence

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0271306 The mental health benefits of visiting canals and rivers: An ecological momentary assessment study

https://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/history/ukcanals.htm

https://www.facebook.com/SAFERegen/?locale=en_GB

https://www.facebook.com/bootlecanoeclub/

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pan3.10620 A qualitative exploration of the contribution of blue space to well-being in the lives of people with severe mental illness 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723033958 A perspective on green, blue, and grey spaces, biodiversity, microbiota, and human health

 

Kassy Price, Community Blogger

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groundswell@qub.ac.uk