International Women’s Day - Professor Janet Dugdale, Chair of the Land Trust

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the value women add to society, and to acknowledge the injustices of the past, in the workplace and beyond.

“With a workforce made up of 60% women, the Land Trust strives to create a working environment which is inclusive and supportive at all levels. Equitable opportunities for career development are essential, along with flexible employee benefits which have been proven to be key in closing the gender pay gap and advancing gender equality.

“Without such a dedicated team, it would be impossible for the Land Trust to deliver an estimated £34million worth of social value per year.

“The Land Trust’s focus is clearly on providing well-managed, accessible green space which play a vital role in creating better health, community cohesion, economic uplift, educational resources, and natural environments for the people that use them.

“Studies have shown that women and girls are three times more likely to feel unsafe in parks than men. The Land Trust is committed to providing safe, accessible green spaces for all members of the community and works with local communities to better understand how to make these spaces work best for the people they serve.

“Measures such as employing rangers for on-site presence, ensuring sites are clearly signposted for ease of orientation and keeping hedge heights maintained to improve sight lines, and creating a sense of belonging and ownership through free, on-site activities such as buggy walks, group volunteering and activities for families all help improve awareness, inclusion and feelings of safety, as outlined in the Safer Parks guidance published in 2023.

“The Trust’s award-winning Green Angels programme, providing free environmental training at sites across the country, worked with 228 women in 2022-23 – 54% of total participants, ranging from school-leavers to retirees. This programme has had incredible impact on the health and wellbeing of the women participating, demonstrated by the positive feedback below from a recent course in South Yorkshire.

“However, all organisations must commit to an ongoing focus on being an equitable place for all, within the workplace and beyond. In turn, the benefits will be felt across all aspects of society.”

Professor Janet Dugdale, Chair of the Land Trust