Evidence

This first ‘State of’ report presents important facts and trends focusing predominantly on the UK’s native woods and trees. It reports on their extent, condition and wildlife value, the benefits people gain from them, the threats and pressures they face, what is being done to help them and what more we need to do. We’ve written a longer summary of this report here.

A technical review of different ways that academic researchers have measured, and should measure, contact with nature in health research.

The NHS Wales’ decarbonisation strategic plan and delivery plan mentions the NHS Forest as an organisation that Trusts and Health Boards can work with to develop their green spaces, encourage biodiversity and provide a space to enhance the wellbeing of staff, patients and the local community.

This project considers the potential contribution that environmental science can make to mental health research and innovation, and interrogates existing research to identify evidence gaps and opportunities. It synthesises global literature from 2010 to 2020 that included environmental science and mental health.

The Blossom Together toolkit provides inspiration and advice for planting inspired by the blossom season. It promotes the idea of blossom season as a time in the year to celebrate, reflect, connect with nature and each other.

This inspiring series of case studies demonstrates how healthcare organisations across Europe are integrating food growing programmes in their activities to promote physical and mental wellbeing. It has a helpful list of steps that are recommended for healthcare sites to follow when setting up their own food growing projects.

This is a tool developed by the RSPB to evaluate the effectiveness of nature activities. The RSPB can provide advice and guidance on implementing the tool to assess projects.

A starting point, linking off to various reports on nature-based solutions since Covid-19 began; includes resources on health as well as economics and opinion pieces.

This independent, global review on the economics of biodiversity calls for changes in how we think, act and measure economic success to protect and enhance our prosperity and the natural world. Grounded in a deep understanding of ecosystem processes and how they are affected by economic activity, this new framework sets out how we should account for nature in economics and decision-making.

This study on nature connectedness found that time in nature is not the most significant factor for predicting wellbeing – rather, the quality of interaction with nature is the most important factor. This means that, for example, stopping to smell flowers or take photographs significantly improves the benefit of time in the natural environment.