Concepts of Mental, Physical, Social, and Equity Health from Greenspaces
We're all told of the benefits that green spaces bring.
Protect Earth recently started thinking that maybe we're too close to the trees to see the forest. We're outside all the time, breathing fresh air, seeing the results of our work grow in front of us, and doing all of this arm-in-arm with enthusiastic volunteers and partners. Being our every day, it's easy to forget that not everyone has those opportunities or understands the benefits of being outdoors surrounded by greenery.
Daisy White, a recent volunteer and Mental Health first aider with Park Avenue Recruitment, reminded us that being outdoors is linked to better mental health, which inspired this series.
In this final piece in this series, we examined the research on green space's impact on health - mental, physical, social, and social equity.
Research worldwide has examined the benefits of being outdoors in green spaces, reporting positive health impacts.
Public Health England estimates the NHS could save £2.1 billion annually if people had more access to green spaces, representing over 1.5% of savings that the NHS could reinvest into the service.
A study from the ONS showed an estimated 1.1 million fewer people in the UK gained health benefits from spending time in nature in 2022 compared to 2020. That loss in health benefits was calculated to equate to an estimated £390 million. Put another way, this drop in health benefits is equivalent to more than 22,000 years of life in perfect health lost across people in the UK.
From Soil to Soul: The Mental Health Benefits of Greenspaces
Spending time in green spaces offers numerous mental health benefits, making it a valuable habit for maintaining overall well-being. These benefits can either enhance mental health or alleviate specific issues.
Enhancing Mental Health:
Being in nature has a soothing effect on the mind, fostering a sense of tranquillity and happiness. Exposure to nature has been linked to cognitive benefits, such as improved concentration, increased creativity, and better problem-solving skills.
Reducing Mental Health Issues:
Green spaces have been shown to help lower stress levels. They can also alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Nature-based therapies, like ecotherapy, have proven highly effective in managing mental health conditions. Engaging in outdoor activities, regular exercise, and social interactions are beneficial for easing mild to moderate depression.
Recognising the healing power of nature, healthcare professionals from the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan are increasingly recommending "nature prescriptions", which involve patients walking in local parks to help treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, diabetes, and obesity.
A 2023 study from Finland found that frequent visits to green spaces significantly reduced the use of antidepressants, blood pressure medication, and asthma medication.
Furthermore, research has shown that children under 10 who live near green spaces have a 55% lower chance of developing psychiatric disorders such as stress, anxiety, and substance abuse later in life.
Green spaces provide opportunities for relaxation, boosting confidence, and improving self-esteem, contributing to a holistic approach to mental well-being.
Exploring the Physical Benefits of Being Outdoors in Green Spaces
Spending a day volunteering with Protect Earth is an invigorating and active way to contribute to the environment. It's a day filled with movement and purpose as we work to restore green spaces across the UK with native plants.
Once we arrive on-site, we start working, digging small holes, carefully planting roots, and protecting newly planted saplings with sturdy tubes and stakes.
Our projects often involve multiple clusters of planting areas within walking distance of each other. We walk with our tools to the next as we complete work in one location.
The physical benefits of volunteering with Protect Earth are plentiful. The outdoor activity provides a full-body workout, engaging muscles through walking, lifting, digging, and hammering. It's like a circuit session in nature - without having to pay the membership fees.
The rewards extend far beyond the immediate sense of accomplishment. As our saplings grow into woodlands, they will offer beautiful spaces for recreation and relaxation, enabling people to continue being outdoors and physically active. These woodlands will provide opportunities to stay active, whether taking a leisurely stroll with friends or a dog, running, enjoying a bike ride, or even riding a horse along bridle paths.
The Social Fabric of Greenspaces: Strengthening Bonds and Connections
Green spaces offer a wealth of opportunities for community engagement.
Spending time in the great, green outdoors has been shown to foster a sense of belonging, reduce loneliness, and nurture a deeper connection to the local community and the natural world.
At Protect Earth, we are deeply involved in creating and maintaining these green spaces and invite everyone to participate.
Our key activities are tree and hedge planting and establishing wildflower meadows. These activities are perfect for anyone who wants to contribute to biodiversity development in the UK. Throughout the day spent developing these natural habitats, there are always opportunities to chat, learn about each other, and share opinions, creating rapport and relationships.
To ensure the ongoing care of these green spaces, we organise monthly Work Parties. Maintaining a piece of land the size of High Wood is no small feat, and these gatherings provide a wonderful chance for community members to strengthen their connections with our projects and other community members.
Additionally, we host an annual Open Day at High Wood, a free event where everyone is welcome to explore and learn more about our work. Like all our activities, this event encourages intergenerational connections, creating spaces where Protect Earth community members of all ages can interact and share their experiences.
Being a Protect Earth community member enables you to enjoy the benefits of these green spaces while contributing to something truly meaningful.
Sowing Equality: How Greenspaces Promote Health Equity
Planting trees and expanding greenspaces offer numerous health equity benefits. In terms of accessible recreation, these areas offer free or low-cost opportunities for physical activity, benefiting individuals across socioeconomic divides. Moreover, greenspaces contribute to mental health equity by providing natural environments for relaxation and stress relief, which can help reduce disparities in mental health outcomes. Research indicates that green spaces are crucial in mitigating the health impacts of socioeconomic inequality, with the most significant benefits observed among society's most marginalised members.
To sum up
Green spaces are important places that help those who access them regularly with their mental and physical health. Being outdoors and in nature boosts sociability, and the low cost of activities in green spaces lowers participation barriers, increasing accessibility so more can enjoy the benefits.
Green spaces contribute significantly to healthier and happier communities for people of all ages. As Protect Earth is an environmental charity and not a health advisor, we encourage you to explore more of these findings.
If, after your research, you find that increasing your exposure to green spaces would be beneficial like we do, and Daisy, we'd love to hear from you. We can guide you toward activities we're involved in, whether our regular monthly maintenance events at High Wood, our flagship temperate rainforest, or other events around the UK based on your location.
The more you immerse yourself in green spaces, the greater the benefits. Research clearly shows that green spaces have a positive impact on our well-being. Therefore, protecting existing green areas and creating new ones is essential for fostering healthy urban environments and can be a long-term strategy for improving mental health.
If you can't join a planting day but recognise the benefits of green spaces and want to see more of them in your area, consider donating to our land fund. One of our goals at Protect Earth is to purchase land, allowing us to manage it in a way that promotes balanced woodland development and biodiversity. This ensures that these spaces remain accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
You can buy trees or hedgerows. Every tree and hedgerow you buy will be planted at our projects across the UK, building the green spaces people need for their mental and physical health.
