Urban Green Space makes a difference

urban green space helps when rural views aren't as accessible

Having worked for some years on the design and use of urban space for health, wellbeing and safety, it is good to see a major study published in the journal Psychological Science. The study, by the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter Medical School shows the relationship between urban green space, wellbeing and mental distress. Over 10,000 people have taken part across an 18 year period, reporting their psychological health and wellbeing.

The study team was able to use data in a way more common in economic analysis enabling them to account for variables over time such as income, employment status, marital status, health, housing type and local area level variables, such as crime rates.

The analysis also made it possible to compare the beneficial effects of green space with other factors which influence wellbeing. In comparative terms, living in an area with higher levels of green space was associated with improvements in wellbeing indicators roughly equal to a third of that gained from being married, or a tenth as large as being employed vs. unemployed.

With the widely perceived threats to our health from urbanisation, including traffic volumes, noise and lack of green space, the report helps to reinforce the importance of taking time to experience nature, to be mindful of it.