Birmingham is about to embark on an experiment which could create a biophilic city. That in turn could change the way that property blends with the green environment.

The Biophilipc Cities movement has been promoting "connection and access to nature through abundant opportunities to be outside and to enjoy the multisensory aspects of nature by protecting and promoting nature within the city".

Pittsburgh, Phoenix and Austin are among the U.S. cities that, along with Birmingham, are already part of a Biophilic Cities consortium.

The "biophilic city" agenda is part of a plan to rethink the city's parks and green spaces. The council will have a £1M share of a £10M pot to allow it to work with the National Trust and other cities on how to turn parks from problems into assets.

The aim of the project is "to move parks from a maintenance mindset
where it struggles to connect with wider corporate outcomes or priorities, into a
21st century service managing the green estate of the city as assets that
directly connect with and benefit the people of Birmingham," an official report to councillors said this week.

Over two years the council will work with the National Trust on five priorities for green spaces including children, health, housing, jobs and entrepreneurship.

The plan will feed into a new integrated Place and Environment Policy for Birmingham which will help set the agenda for future development to work with green spaces.