Contact With Nature Improves Health

A report has shown that being in the vicinity of trees and greenery improves a person's physical and mental health. Benefits include greater self-esteem, longer life span and lower blood pressure. The report concludes that we need contact with nature for our well-being.

By Hugh Finlay

Drawing from over 200 studies, the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), concluded that contact with nature was essential for the growth and well-being of individuals and communities. The IEEP study took a year to complete and is the most wide ranging investigation on into the beneficial effect of nature on health.

The Benefits

Contact With Nature Improves Health

For instance, middle-aged Scottish men living near countryside had a 16% lower death rate than their urban counterparts. And in Toronto, an extra 10 trees in a vicinity provided health benefits to residents, equivalent to being 7 years younger.
In Bradford, England, women exposed to a greener environment were found to have lower blood pressure, and they gave birth to larger babies, than women in more urban areas.
People living in greener environments are less prone to obesity and idleness. They are also less dependent on anti-depressants. Other benefits reported were less allergies, and an increase in self-esteem and mental wellbeing.
A US study showed that hospital patients with a window view of trees, were discharged from hospital a day earlier, than patients with a wall view.

The Next Step

Robbie Blake, a campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, which commissioned the analysis, said: "The evidence is strong and growing that people and communities can only thrive when they have access to nature."
The IEEP's director, Patrick ten Brink has urged all Europeans have access to a greenery, within 300 metres of where they live, and he praised cities such as Oslo and Victoria-Gasteiz for taking steps to do this.

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