Read more about the benefits of the outdoors. Explore publications, reports, toolkit and strategy papers from researchers, practitioners and policy-makers.
Strategy Papers
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.
The development of the Strategy was informed by a public consultation and a workshop in Spring 2008.
Read consultation papers | responses received | view of children and young people
Mutual Benefits: The environment and health, social care and well-being strategies February 2008: The WLGA, together with CCW, EA and WAG, commissioned this briefing note to help local partnerships integrate the environment into Health, Social Care and Well-being Strategies (HSCWBSs). It aims to show how HSCWBSs can be developed and implemented in ways that also achieve environmental goals. It also shows how environmental and other policies and actions can and should contribute to health and wellbeing. Click here to download the briefing note.
Conference Reports
Statins and Greenspaces: Health and the Urban Environment
May 2008: UK-MAB Urban Forum conference looked at the health promoting potential of urban green open spaces from different perspectives, asking the question: ‘why is greenspace not more readily prescribed by doctors, given the evidence that it is good for health?’ Click here to download report.
Green Spaces: A Pathway to Health
July 2007: Conference organised by Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the Wales Centre for Health (WCfH) to highlight how current research is being put into practice across Wales, to share best practice examples of projects, and to facilitate discussions on future policy priorities in Wales. Click here to download report.
Publications
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) spent a year studying 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.
The Value of Parks
June 2008: IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and the People and Parks Foundation and the Parks Forum collaborated in this report exploring the value of parks, protected areas and private land trusts. The report draws on case studies from across Australia and New Zealand to outline the importance of sustaining these natural areas and to highlight their important role in building healthy communities, contributing to the economy, reflecting culture, and insuring the future. <read more>
Health, Place and Nature: How outdoor environments influence health and well-being: a knowledge base
April 2008: Report addresses how some of the UK’s biggest health challenges are influenced by the outdoor environment in which we live (both natural and built). For people to be healthy, the environment must be health enhancing and provide opportunities to live a healthy life. It concludes that research findings to date about the health impacts of the outdoor environment are sufficient to warrant action. To improve health and reduce health inequalities it is vital to ensure that the natural environment is protected and enhanced and that communities are built and maintained to be truly sustainable. Click here to download the report.
Study says Live Near A Park - Live Longer
November 2007: Survival of older people lengthened with nearby parks and tree lined streets near the residence. Click here to read report by de Vries S, Verheij RA and Groenewegen PP. (2001) Nature and Health The Relation between health and green space in people’s living environment. Euro Leisure-congress Netherlands.
Study says Green Space Decreases Effective Age
November 2007: For every 10% increase in green space there can be a reduction in health complaints in communities equivalent to a reduction of 5 years of age. Click here to read the study Nature and Health The Relation Between Health and Green Space in People’s Living Environment by S de Vries S, RA Verheij and PP Groenewegen (2001) Leisure-congress Netherlands published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2006.
Natural Thinking
June 2007: Report by Dr William Bird, for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, investigating the links between the natural environment, biodiversity and mental health. Click here to download report.
A Countryside for Health and Wellbeing
2005: Research commissioned by the Countryside Recreation Network, exploring the physical and mental health benefits of green exercise through 10 case studies.
Download Executive Summary [4 pages] Download Full Report (£20)
Natural Fit: Can green space and biodiversity increase levels of physical activity?
October 2004: Report by Dr William Bird, commissioned by RSPB on the health implications of green spaces. Click here to download summary report. Click here to download full report.
Nature and Health. The influence of nature on social, psychological and physical well-being
June 2004: Health Council of the Netherlands and Dutch Advisory Council for Research on Spatial Planning, Nature and the Environment review the level of knowledge on a possibly beneficial influence of nature on our health and well-being has so far been obtained through scientific research. Click here to download report.
Study says Countryside Views Improve Children Self Discipline by 20%
June 2002: Children’s self discipline can be improved by 20% by simply having views of trees and vegetation outside their homes. This mainly affects girls and is related to better concentration even when adjusted for all other factors. Click here to read Views of Nature and Self-discipline: Evidence from Inner City Children report by AF Taylor, FE Kuo and WC Sullivan JEVP (2001) 21 Supp
Report says 70% of people do not take recommended level of activity
April 2004: 70% of the population do not undertake the levels of activity as recommended by the Chief medical Officer. Click here to read At Least five a day: Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health. The report sets out research evidence of the benefits of physical activity for health. The document is aimed at those concerned with formulating and implementing policies or programmes that utilise the promotion of physical activity, sport, exercise and active travel to achieve health gain.
How Common is Mental Distress?
See mental health statistics from Mind
Oxford Brooks University report on how to increase level of walking
2000: Accessibility to nearby attractive public green space and footpaths are more likely to increase levels of walking. Click here to read report by Ashley A, Bartlett S, Lamb M, Steel M. (1999) Evaluation of the Thames Valley Health Walks Scheme. Participants Feedback Survey. Oxford Brooks University report.
Toolkit
Health and Well-Being Impact Assessment Screening Tool
January 2008: Tool to measure the health impacts (negative & positive) of environmental projects developed by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), the Institute of Rural Health (IRH) and the Welsh Health Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU). Click here.
