THE future of Scottish parks is at a “tipping point”, with one in two park managers predicting further decline over the next three years, a survey has found.

Urgent action is needed to safeguard the “lungs of our cities” for generations to come, the research claims, with falling public finances making it harder for parks and green spaces to be maintained.

The State Of The UK’s Public Parks 2016 highlights concerns about the condition of Scottish parks following a survey of park managers.

The proportion of “good” Scottish parks had fallen by 10 per cent and a small percentage of managers – four per cent – were now reporting “poor” parks, compared to none in 2013.

But one of the major concerns was for the potential for gradual deterioration.

Julie Procter, chief executive of the charity Greenspace Scotland, which works to improve the quality of urban life, said the problems facing public parks were mounting.

“Our parks and green spaces matter because they aren’t just the space where the kids kick a ball around or where your neighbour walks the dog; they are our natural health service, our children’s outdoor classrooms, our cities’ green lungs – essential to our quality of life, our sense of place and community,” she said.

“While many of Scotland’s parks are still in good heart, we are rapidly approaching a tipping point leading to the downward spiral of reduced maintenance, poorer quality greenspaces and lower levels of use – meaning we are at risk of losing the wonderful health, social and environmental benefits that quality greenspaces provide.”

In recent years, some parks have received major investment, including Saughton Park in a deprived area of Edinburgh, which was awarded £3.8 million to revive its flagging fortunes.

Glasgow Green remains a hotspot for popular events, including pop concerts, World Pipe Band Championships and parades.

Crowdfunding has helped raise cash for Glasgow Green’s West Boat House and Glasgow’s Hayburn Park, where money was raised to plant a mini-orchard.

Ms Proctor said the State of UK Public Parks report indicated that so far the impact of public sector cuts had been less severe in Scotland than in other parts of the UK.

But with one of the highest reported percentages of parks in decline there was no room for complacency, she said. “Urgent action is needed now to safeguard the legacy of Scotland’s wonderful parks and greenspaces for today and for the benefit of future generations.

“We recognise the tipping point; now is the time for collaborative and concerted action.”

The report highlights a growing mismatch between use of parks and the resources available to support them. It says all public services have been experiencing the financial squeeze but a recent State of the Market survey by the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) found 78 per cent of local authorities agreed “the squeeze on public sector resources is affecting parks and greenspaces disproportionately to other service areas”.

Across the UK park budgets had been cut, with further reductions expected. Some 95 per cent of Scottish Councils reported theirs had decreased in the last three years. For 59 per cent, the cut was between 10 and 20 per cent.

Ministers, local authorities, the voluntary sector, businesses and the public had to heed the warning.

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund said: “Our fear is many of the UK’s parks and green spaces face an increasingly uncertain future.The scale of the task ahead is daunting. We realise the great value our parks bring to people. Our research shows that investing in parks is something 79 per cent of the public support.”