Aberdeenshire Council is leveraging advanced mapping data and analysis from Bluesky International to evaluate residents' access to trees and green spaces, employing the increasingly influential '3+30+300' urban greening guideline.

The council is using Bluesky's National Tree Map™ (NTM) data alongside its specialised analysis service, which applies the 3+30+300 rule. This rule, introduced in 2021 by Cecil Konijnendijk of the Nature Based Solutions Institute, suggests optimal urban greening levels: visibility of at least 3 trees from homes and workplaces, 30 per cent tree canopy cover in neighbourhoods, and access to a public green space within 300 metres.

Aberdeenshire Council has found the visual outputs generated by Bluesky particularly effective for facilitating cross-departmental discussions and engaging with local communities about the importance and distribution of urban trees.

Fiona Chirnside, an Environmental Planner at Aberdeenshire Council, explained the application: "We have applied the analysis from Bluesky, which uses the 3+30+300 rule in conjunction with their NTM™ data, for cross-service discussions specifically for the Inverurie area, as part of the development of a corporate place plan for the settlement."


She highlighted the broad utility of the data: "Services from across the Council, even those who perhaps wouldn't necessarily see trees or green spaces as part of their remit, can benefit from this information whether it's for future project planning, resident engagement, or grant applications. We have had interest from colleagues in our Roads and Education teams and from our Health & Social Care Partnership and using the 3+30+300 analysis has meant we can demonstrate the impact location to trees and green spaces can have, especially when we overlay with our social economic data."

The visualisations have also proven valuable for public engagement. Environmental Planner Eleanor Munro commented: "The 3+30+300 analysis visuals have significantly boosted our ability to engage with the community and, working together, they will help identify suitable tree planting locations in the town that will align to the rule for the benefit of the community."

Councillor Sarah Dickinson, chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Sustainability Committee, added: "Greenspaces and trees provide us with so many environmental benefits... But we often overlook the amazing benefits for ourselves—our health and wellbeing—that these spaces provide. Access to nature is so important: for our mental health, for our air quality, to be able to take part in outdoor physical activity, and that is what makes the focus of this project so special."

Bluesky's unique NTM dataset, which maps trees 3 metres and taller across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, underpins the analysis service. Ralph Coleman, Chief Commercial Officer at Bluesky, noted: "Our NTM™ data... has enabled us to be the first to offer national 3+30+300 analysis as a service. The outputs, based on existing data sources, are produced rapidly providing local authorities, housing developers and environmental consultants the efficiency required to deliver an effective service."

This collaboration demonstrates how detailed environmental data analysis can support strategic planning, community involvement, and efforts to create healthier, more sustainable urban environments in Aberdeenshire.