Photo gallery: Pictured clockwise from left - St Paul’s Square in the Jewellery Quarter, Winterbourne House and Gardens and Birmingham Botanical Gardens have been named in the top five breathing spaces in Birmingham

PHOTOS: The top five places to ‘take a breath’ in Birmingham have been officially unveiled today (Friday 27 August) as local residents are encouraged to enjoy their own breathing space in the city this Bank Holiday weekend.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Cannon Hill Park, canal-side at Mailbox, Winterbourne House & Gardens and St Paul’s Square have each received a celebratory plaque to mark their position as one of the city’s favourite breathing spaces.

The findings were revealed in a new survey of Birmingham residents commissioned by Taskforce for Lung Health. With 1 in 5 people in the UK diagnosed with lung disease during their lifetime, the Taskforce is encouraging people across the city to pause and ‘take a breath’ for five minutes and appreciate the vital role our lungs play.

The campaign has been supported by individuals and organisations across the city, including Councillor Waseem Zaffar MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment and Lead for Birmingham Clean Air Zone, and Councillor Chaman Lal, representative for Soho and Jewellery Quarter ward.

Dr Alison Cook, Chair of Taskforce for Lung Health, said:

“We’re delighted to celebrate the top five breathing spaces in Birmingham and hope that local residents are inspired to pause and ‘take a breath’ this Bank Holiday weekend. By raising awareness of good lung health, we can help to improve the treatment, care and quality of life for the 1 in 5 people in the UK living with a lung condition.”

Councillor Waseem Zaffar MBE added: 

“Air pollution has been declared a national health emergency, especially here in Birmingham.

“The Clean Air Zone is the beginning of a bold new vision for our city - where walking, cycling and public transport become the norm. I’m delighted to support the Taskforce for Lung Health’s Take A Breath campaign today and hope it will raise more awareness of how we can all play a part in improving our city’s lung health.”

Birmingham has one of the highest numbers of people living with lung disease in the country. It is estimated that over 55,000 people in Birmingham & Solihull and Sandwell & West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - a group of lung conditions that causes breathing difficulties.

People in Birmingham are being invited to share their support for the campaign this Bank Holiday weekend via the hashtag #BreatheInBrum. For more information, visit https://www.blf.org.uk/taskforce-for-lung-health/take-a-breath.