Evidence

This review was to examine whether green space has a greater protective influence on physical health in more urban areas than in less urban settings. It suggests there are greater protective impacts on health in more urban areas, which may be used to encourage prioritisation of green space in cities and towns.

Green spaces and nature-based interventions (NBIs) are reviewed to consider their influence on cardiovascular and cancer outcomes, by categorising interventions into four categories: forest bathing, green exercise, green gardening and nature viewing. These aspects of health included; blood pressure, cancer related quality of life and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. Both green spaces and NBIs were observed to beneficially impact health outcomes of these conditions.

This paper discusses the relationship between the quality and quantity of green spaces and three health outcomes: general health, mental health and mortality. Evidence suggests that quantity of green space strongly improves mental health and lowers mortality rates as well as moderately improving general health. Quality of green space was observed to positively impact general and mental health.

This paper documents the specific health outcomes of green spaces, outlining largely positive outcomes in regards to physical activity, weight impact, birth outcomes and cardiovascular consequences. Green space was typically found to increase exercise and so decrease obesity and poor cardiovascular outcomes. Mental and social health benefitted as green space allows for social connection mitigating loneliness. Findings showed that lower socioeconomic populations typically had less access to green space.

This review identifies pathways categorise how health benefits are brought about through green space. First, through reduction of harm such as lower levels of air pollution due to reduced traffic. Second, through the restoration of capacities like increased attention spans. Finally, through the building of capacities which encourages physical activity and social connection.

Evidence review commissioned by NASP detailing the current evidence for the multiple ways the natural environment can have a positive impact on social prescribing initiatives.

This report demonstrates how the natural environment can support children and young people’s mental and physical health. It includes the implications for service delivery based on the latest evidence.

This review summarises the evidence for the links between nature and physical health on numerous topics, giving a comprehensive overview of the topic and including recommendations for policy and delivery.

This briefing focuses on the links between the natural environments and mental health. It is a comprehensive summary of the evidence for the links between nature and mental health and highlights implications for policy and delivery.

This project aimed to provide the first estimate of the economic value of trees outside woodlands in the UK, which is calculated to be between £1.39 billion and £3.83 billion per year. This figure is based on the ecosystem services these trees provide, including carbon storage and sequestration, air pollution removal, flood mitigation and more. The valuation will be useful to policymakers in considering where to allocate resources, in making decisions, and in the preparation of future policies.