|
|
The Biophilia Hypothesis
How green spaces can improve the nation's health
Do we have an innate need to be close to nature? Our unhealthy lifestyles and increasing stress levels are creating a public health time-bomb.Research into the health benefits associated with outdoor exercise seems to suggest that we do. How can we use these findings to raise the profile of green space management, encourage greater participation in countryside recreation activities and contribute to a healthier society as a result? Our Science editor explores these questions further.
The Background
There is increasing concern that our unhealthy lifestyles
and increasing stress levels are creating a public health time-bomb. The incidence
of obesity in the adult population has increased from 6% to 22% in the last
20 years 1 and the number of people suffering extreme stress in the workplace
has been estimated at over 5 million 2 . The positive effect that exercise can
have on these problems is well known, but it appears that exercise associated
with nature can add value to exercise activities.
Professor Jules Pretty and his team at Essex University are leading the research into the physical and mental benefits of green exercise. Commenting on the relationship between exercise and nature for ‘Ranger’ magazine, Professor Pretty said, “It is the exposure to green nature that is critical. On its own it makes a difference to well-being, so exercise (which is good for you) in the presence of green nature is synergistic.”
The Research
In one study Professor Pretty’s team looked at the
health benefits experienced by participants in countryside activities at ten
locations across Britain. Activities included; walking, mountain biking, horse
riding, conservation work and healthy walks projects. The physical and mental
health of participants was gauged using a questionnaire which provided results
for an analysis of self-esteem and the mood. In most cases the participants
engaged in these activities experienced significant improvements in both self-esteem
and mood.However, lots of people are already
engaged in outdoor recreation activities.
However, you don’t even need to be outdoors to experience the added value that nature can give to exercise. Just showing pictures of pleasant rural scenes to people exercising can offer health benefits such as improved blood pressure and greater self-esteem 1. In fact even a passive involvement with nature can be good for you. Looking at nature through a window or meeting friends in a park can be good too. So if outdoor exercise is so good for you why aren’t more people doing it?
The Barriers
Actually, lots of people are already engaged in outdoor recreation
activities. For example there are 1.2 billion day visits to the countryside
a year, 5 billion visits to urban parks, 5 million anglers and 15 million gardeners
1. All this, however, needs to be set against the health crisis facing the country.
This crisis demands a fix, and based on the green exercise studies, this fix
needs to include the promotion of green exercise. To promote green exercise
we need to understand what prevents more people from recreating in green space
areas.
The following factors have been identified 3 as the main barriers to participation in countryside activities:
Additionally it tends to be a narrow cross-section of the community who visit green space areas. These four groups are particularly under-represented:
Given the current emphasis on inclusion, involving under-represented groups and audience development, we are already aware of the need to reach out to these groups. Professor Pretty stresses the importance of this from a public health point of view: “This is absolutely critical,” he told us, “many people from ethnic groups do not access rural green space because they feel excluded, so are missing out from health benefits.” He feels that there is potentially a large group of people out there waiting to experience the health benefits of green exercise if only we could reach them.
Breaking Down Barriers
A number of factors have been identified which can contribute
to the removal of these barriers preventing participation. Successful projects
often exhibit the following characteristics:
- Attention to good partnership working.
- Opportunities offered for feedback.
- Clearly-marked routes.
- Good information.
- Good facilities.
- Successful market research.
- Good and welcoming staff.
- A programme of events with clear dates and locations.
- Personality of group leaders.
- Advertising to local people.
Site
improvements can help too. Studies into the effects of two regeneration schemes
have shown that environmental improvements encourage more people to visit a
site, stay longer, visit more frequently and spend longer engaging with nature
on each visit. A variety of selling points can be used to encourage participation
in green exercise activities. People might engage in an activity :
The health benefits experienced may well be an unforeseen side effect. Professor Pretty believes that any selling point that encourages involvement is good. Indeed in addition to green exercise he also has an interest in the cultural aspects of the countryside, which he explores in his book “Agri-Culture”.
Using the Findings
As managers of rural and urban green spaces we have the opportunity
to address the barriers to participation and thereby encourage a wider participation
in green space recreation. We can also use the evidence of these studies into
the physical and mental benefits of green exercise to promote and develop our
work.
Professor Pretty and his team are examining ways in which the findings of the green exercise studies can be incorporated into health programmes, an idea they call ‘Green Care.’
References
1. Pretty J. From Green Exercise to Green Care: A New Opportunity
for Farming in the UK?
2. Figure from ‘Mind’ quoted in From Green Exercise to Green Care
3. Faber Maunsell. 2004
4. Pretty J, Griffin M, Peacock J, Hine R, Sellens M, South N. 2005. “A
Countryside for Health and Wellbeing: The Physical and Mental Benefits of Green
Exercise” Executive summary in Countryside Recreation Volume 13 Number
1 spring 2005