Welcome To The Nation's Greatest Outpatient Department
The natural environment plays a significant role in improving health. We believe that quality outdoors contributes to good health and well-being. For prevention or treatment, contact with the outdoors can make a positive impact on health.
The Outdoor Health Forum represent all the major UK environmental organisations who see the natural environment as a major contribution to health. We share news on activities, campaigns and events, with the objective of driving new research and influencing Government.
In short, we believe that "you can't have a healthy population in an unhealthy environment".
You can follow our activities and join any discussion on this site. Better still, get up, get outside and enjoy a day out in the open air!
Forthcoming Events
Countryside Recreation Network Seminar - 3 December 2009, Oxford
"Growing Up Outdoors the next steps: children's health and the outdoors"
One year on from the CRN landmark conference 'Growing up Outdoors', this seminar at Said Business School will explore further steps towards encouraging children to be active in the natural environment.
Dr William Bird will speak on how to integrate this work into the NHS agenda.
Click here for more information.
Publications
A Children's Environment and Health Strategy for the United Kingdom March 2009: The Strategy provides a brief overview of children's health in relation to their environment in the UK and recommends areas that should be taken forward in order to protect and promote children's health and to meet the UK's commitment to Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE). Click here to download the strategy.
Natural Heritage: A Pathway to Health Institute of Rural Health; CCW Policy Research Report No. 07/20
September 2008: The natural environment can play a key role in improving public health and wellbeing, says a major report from the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). Researchers from the Institute of Rural Health (IRH) studied what impact the natural environment - everything from allotments, urban parks, woodland and lakes to the countryside, mountains, rivers and sea - has on health and wellbeing. Click here to download the final report.
