Green Spaces Keep Us Healthy

Greener Leith is happy to pass on two bits of news that are so well connected you'd think that someone had noted that Leithers are statistically more unhealthy than the Edinburgh average and decided to give voluntary groups the tools to do something about it.

First off, Greenspace Scotland have just released a report that seeks to bring together international research into the relationship between Health and Green Spaces. Key findings:

• The evidence demonstrates a clear positive relationship between greenspaces and health, although the mechanisms which generate these positive effects are not always clear.
• For physical exercise, the value of greenspaces as places to exercise is unquestionable. However, although people who use parks regularly appear to take more exercise, access to greenspace does not appear to be the key variable for explaining levels of physical exercise.
• On mental health, there is compelling evidence for the restorative effects of greenspaces. But the evidence base is insufficient to answer more detailed questions about different spaces and populations.
• In terms of social health, the review shows that greenspaces are one of the few remaining spaces that are available to all. Surveys show that greenspaces are important as places of memory, and are closely associated with neighbourhood identity.

So, we know that Green spaces can help to keep us fitter, happier and play an important role in developing our sense of neighbourhood identity. However, what can voluntary groups do to put these lessons into practice? Helpfully, NHS Lothian have just circulated a call for applications to their 'Community Health Development Grant Scheme'. Voluntary groups can access up to £3000 for projects that match these funding criteria. 

Comments

[Crafty Green Poet]

Thanks for the links, I'll read them at work, very useful!