Evidence

This evidence review provides public health professionals with the tools to make the care for maintaining or increasing provision of green space. It emphasises equity of access as a key issue. It supplies headline figures on the financial value of green spaces to communities based on a natural capital approach.

This report, produced in collaboration with the University of Derby, looks at how acts of noticing, or ‘tuning in’ to the natural world increases the wellbeing effect associated with spending time in nature.

This review found that the main benefits of green walking groups for adults with mental health issues were connections with other people, connections with nature and a sense of freedom. There was also evidence that improvements to mood, self-esteem and symptoms of depression resulted from these walking groups.

This study looked at the impact on children of participating in outdoor activities with The Wildlife Trusts, and found that it improved children’s wellbeing and health as well as increasing pro-environmental values.

Prescribing contact with nature for people who have low levels of mental health is excellent value for money. For every £1 invested in regular nature volunteering projects which play a part in tackling problems like physical inactivity or loneliness, there is an £8.50 social return. For every £1 invested in specialised health or social needs projects which connect people to nature, there is a £6.88 social return.

This document introduces the concept of anchor institutions and the idea that the NHS is one. That is, the NHS has a role to play in the local community surrounding an NHS site, with a responsibility to advance the welfare of the populations it serves, and to be a participant and stakeholder in decision-making to improve and benefit the public health of its local community.

This research report details the ecosystem services provided by 30 native British tree species in the urban environment, and how management techniques can influence these.

Individuals who are more connected to nature have greater eudemonic wellbeing, and higher levels of self-reported personal growth.

This study assessed salivary cortisol before and after nature engagement activities for eight weeks and found that nature engagements significantly reduced stress as assessed by cortisol levels.

Brings together environmental psychology and early years’ policy to make the case for nature connectedness becoming a distinct goal in early childhood curricular frameworks.