April 5th

By Mutt Mulligan

Research: invest in green space to improve health & well-being

More funding should be made available to improve and maintain green space and encourage people to connect with the natural environment around them. That’s the conclusion of a new study from the University of Sheffield in England.

Researchers found a measurable improvement in health and wellbeing when people noticed the nature around them. That’s prompted the scientists to call on policymakers to invest in new and existing green space in urban populations.

The project recommendations not only encourage cities to ensure that public parks are safe and welcoming. They also want people and communities that might not normally use green spaces to connect with them.

To complete the study, researchers used a mobile phone app to evaluate the quality and quantity of urban green spaces in Sheffield, England. The study also assessed the impacts of the green space on the city’s residents.

The results? Poorer quality green spaces are stressful and intimidating. And, in those areas where green space is uninviting or lacking altogether, health levels were worse. Researchers say cities can make green space more accessible and welcoming by adding a café, creating a pedestrian path, and offering other means for social interaction in nature.

This is just the latest scientific evidence that having a green space – and getting out and enjoying it – is good for our minds and our bodies. To learn more about the health and wellness benefits of living landscapes, check out the Living Landscapes Fact Book.