WIDE open spaces are vital for our health, our life and even our sanity ...

but the number in Scottish cities is now in sharp decline because of Government cutbacks.

The parks, gardens, allotments, woodlands and sports fields that make up urban green spaces are deteriorating fast, according to new evidence to be unveiled tomorrow.

A survey for Greenspace Scotland, an independent social enterprise organisation, reveals a steep drop in the number of people using their local green spaces over the last two years. This is because they are seen as more stressful, less attractive and more dangerous places now than they were in 2009.

This means Scotland is putting public health and economic prosperity at risk, experts warn. The survey should act as a "wake-up call" for policy-makers to protect and enhance the quality of green spaces rather than allow them to suffer from funding restrictions, they say.

"We've been hearing about reductions in green space staffing and management, which inevitably were going to make a difference on the ground, but we had not expected this to impact so soon on people's use and attitudes," said Julie Procter, chief executive of Greenspace Scotland.

"Difficult decisions on priorities have to be taken in these financially challenging times – just as households have been tightening their belts, so too have local authorities and other organisations."

The survey results should "sound an alarm" and make us rethink spending decisions, Procter said. "What may seem a relatively easy, low-impact cost-saving on green space now could have a disproportionately negative and far-reaching impact on Scotland's health and prosperity."

Greenspace Scotland was set up in 2003 by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Government's nature conservation agency, to improve parks and woods in urban areas. It now operates as an independent charitable company, and gets public funding for specific projects.

With backing from SNH, Greenspace Scotland commissioned Progressive Partnership, an Edinburgh polling company, to interview more than 1100 people in urban areas. The results were compared with a previous survey conducted in 2009.

The proportion of people who said they used their local parks or woods once a week or more dropped from 63% in 2009 to 54% in 2011. This was mirrored by similar falls in the number who thought they were "places you can relax and unwind", "safe places for physical activity", "attractive places" or "good places for children to play" (see table).

According to Greenspace Scotland, a decline in public access to good quality parks and woodlands could have worrying impacts on health, wellbeing and business. There is a substantial body of research on the links between green spaces and quality of life, pointed out the group's chairwoman, Pam Whittle.

"People who live near green spaces tend to be more active. Green spaces can help reduce stress and blood pressure," she said. "The benefits of green space far outweigh costs."

Neglected parks and woods could also damage Scotland's economic recovery by deterring investment, Whittle argued. "Places that are well cared for, attractive and well used project a powerful image of energy, confidence and success," she said. "Rundown, neglected and tired spaces send a very different message – depressing investment prospects blighting people and places."

Unlike Glasgow, Edinburgh seems to have bucked the downward trend in access to green spaces by working with communities to raise the quality of its parklands. In Glasgow, the poorest areas, such as Possilpark, have often seen the worst decline.

Stan Blackley, chief executive of Friends Of The Earth Scotland, was not surprised urban parks were being used less. "Many of them are now so badly maintained, poorly lit or strewn with litter and dog dirt due to cuts in budgets for their upkeep," he said.

"Those in the poorest communities often have less access to good quality urban green space and are denied the benefits this brings."

Blackley called on other local authorities to follow Edinburgh's example and invest in maintaining green areas. "The benefits of doing so not only include making towns and cities a more pleasant place to live, but also include increased public activity in sports and recreation and improved public health."

The survey showed some people are willing to be more involved in the management of their local spaces. This suggests greater community involvement could be the key to revitalising areas, campaigners say.

SNH was concerned people were using parks and woods less often that in previous years. But Chris Nevin, its manager, added: "We are heartened there appears to be a grassroots move for people to have more of a say in how their local green space is managed and help improve them."

The survey also found hundreds of thousands of people in towns and cities want to grow their own food, but can't because they don't have a garden. One in four who don't cultivate their own fruit and vegetables said they would like to.

Greenspace Scotland is urging measures to unlock new land for communities to start growing more of their own.