If you have taken a walk in a park or had a stroll in a simple grassed area, then you have experienced greenspace. And there is a vast amount of research that tells us one simple fact:
Exposure to greenspace appears to have a positive influence on human health and wellbeing[1]Frumkin, H. (2013) ‘The Evidence of Nature and the Nature of Evidence’, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 44(2), pp. 196-197. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.10.016..
And that’s why this topic is so interesting. If we can feel a little better by taking a walk in the park, we can take this positive step more often. The result is an improvement in our health and an increase in our wellbeing.
There are many good reasons why we achieve such benefits. Enjoying our natural environments can give us opportunities for the following:
- Increased physical activity – reduces your risk of chronic disease and is also associated with improved psychological wellbeing[2]Warburton, D.E.R., Nicol, C.W. and Bredin, S.S.D. (2006) ‘Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence’, CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association … Continue reading
- Lower levels of stress[3]Roe, J.J., Thompson, C.W., Aspinall, P.A., Brewer, M.J., Duff, E.I., Miller, D., Mitchell, R. and Clow, A. (2013) ‘Green space and stress: evidence from cortisol measures in deprived urban … Continue reading and a reduction in cortisol concentrations, lower pulse rate and lower blood pressure[4]Park, B.J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T. and Miyazaki, Y. (2010) ‘The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field … Continue reading
- A positive impact on your mood – you can experience an increase in self-esteem and mood even from short-term exposure to exercise (i.e. walking) in greenspace[5]Barton, J. and Pretty, J. (2010) ‘What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis’, Environmental science & technology, 44(10), … Continue reading
- Improvement in social wellbeing – provides opportunities for social engagement, meeting new people and can reduce feelings of loneliness[6]Bergefurt, L., Kemperman, A., Berg, P., Borgers, A., Waerden, P., Oosterhuis, G. and Hommel, M. (2019) ‘Loneliness and Life Satisfaction Explained by Public-Space Use and Mobility … Continue reading
Greenspace can be the perfect escape during a busy or stressful day. It can be a place you visit daily or just when you need to. Breaking out of your routine for a change of scenery can refresh your mind and help you be more productive[7]Colley, K., Brown, C. and Montarzino, A. (2017) ‘Understanding Knowledge Workers’ Interactions With Workplace Greenspace: Open Space Use and Restoration Experiences at Urban-Fringe Business … Continue reading. And a local greenspace will bring you closer to nature and all the benefits of our natural world.
References
| ↑1 | Frumkin, H. (2013) ‘The Evidence of Nature and the Nature of Evidence’, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 44(2), pp. 196-197. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.10.016. |
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| ↑2 | Warburton, D.E.R., Nicol, C.W. and Bredin, S.S.D. (2006) ‘Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence’, CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 174(6), pp. 801-809. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.051351. |
| ↑3 | Roe, J.J., Thompson, C.W., Aspinall, P.A., Brewer, M.J., Duff, E.I., Miller, D., Mitchell, R. and Clow, A. (2013) ‘Green space and stress: evidence from cortisol measures in deprived urban communities’, International journal of environmental research and public health, 10(9), pp. 4086-4103. doi: 10.3390/ijerph10094086. |
| ↑4 | Park, B.J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T. and Miyazaki, Y. (2010) ‘The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan’, Environmental health and preventive medicine, 15(1), pp. 18-26. doi: 10.1007/s12199-009-0086-9. |
| ↑5 | Barton, J. and Pretty, J. (2010) ‘What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis’, Environmental science & technology, 44(10), pp. 3947-3955. doi: 10.1021/es903183r. |
| ↑6 | Bergefurt, L., Kemperman, A., Berg, P., Borgers, A., Waerden, P., Oosterhuis, G. and Hommel, M. (2019) ‘Loneliness and Life Satisfaction Explained by Public-Space Use and Mobility Patterns’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16, pp. 4282. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214282. |
| ↑7 | Colley, K., Brown, C. and Montarzino, A. (2017) ‘Understanding Knowledge Workers’ Interactions With Workplace Greenspace: Open Space Use and Restoration Experiences at Urban-Fringe Business Sites’, Environment and Behavior, 49(3), pp. 314–338. doi: 10.1177/0013916516629194. |
