F E AT U R E By Richard Tisdall
Creating healthy green spaces 1
Richard Tisdall makes the case to view parks from a perspective of health and wellbeing, and introduces the Health Parks Toolkit as a vehicle to deliver practical health-based interventions.
T
he WHO have recognised the importance of green spaces for health, confirming that “Having access to green spaces can reduce health inequalities, improve wellbeing, and aid in treatment of mental illness...physical activity in a natural environment can also help remedy mild depression and reduce physiological stress indicators.”1 Research has demonstrated several health benefits associated with the presence and use of parks2. These include: 30
– Improved mental health, – Better relaxation and restoration – Boosted functioning of the immune system – Enhanced physical activity and improved fitness – Increased social capital and cohesion – Improved mental health and cognitive function – Reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality – Improved pregnancy outcomes – Reduced mortality and increased life span
The 25 Year Environment Plan3 acknowledges the importance of the natural environment for health and wellbeing. The steer of the NHS Long Term Plan4 and Long Term Plan Implementation Framework5 emphasise the need for Primary Prevention to reduce obesity, avoidable health conditions and mental ill health. A halt in the annual increase in life expectancy over the last decade in the most deprived communities6, and increasing prevalence of avoidable medical conditions and mental
1, 2. Using the Health Parks Toolkit. © Richard Tisdall
