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Contact with green spaces
and nature improves psychological health by reducing stress levels, enhancing mood and self-esteem and offering a restorative environment which enables people to relax, unwind and recharge their batteries.
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Participating in physical activity results in positive outcomes for both physical and mental health.
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For
the last 8 years
the Green Exercise Research Team
at the University of Essex, has combined these ideas
into a programme of research to investigate the synergistic
benefits of engaging in physical activities whilst
simultaneously being exposed to nature.
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We
refer to this as
"GREEN EXERCISE"
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Latest
News.....
Exercise, nature and socially interactive based
initiatives improve mood and self-esteem in the clinical
population-
This paper
was published in Perspectives in Public Health on the
7th of April 2011. The paper evaluates the psychological
health benefits of two existing group-based health
promotion initiatives and a new green exercise programme
and also compares the effectiveness of the two. The
report revealed that both the existing initiatives and
the green exercise programme lead to significant
improvements in self-esteem and mood. Furthermore
improvements in self-esteem were significantly greater
in the green exercise group.
The mental health and wellbeing effects of a walking and
outdoor activity based therapy project-
This paper
was written for Discovery Quest to evaluate the
wellbeing effects of their community based project for
adults with mental health problems. The report revealed
that the participants experienced significant increases
in 3 measures of well-being, including self-esteem, mood
and overall well-being. Participants also felt
significantly more connected to nature as a result of
the project.
If you have any relevant news,
information, projects or papers you would like to share please contact
Carly Wood (cjwood@essex.ac.uk)
and we will include a link to your work on our website.
Links to previous news.....
Who are
we working with.....
Mind -
Ecominds Grant Programme:
Fund environmentally-orientated
projects involving people with direct experience of mental distress.
Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) and The Sensory Trust -
Let Nature Feed Your Senses:
Connect disengaged groups and individuals with nature and the
countryside, through food and farming.
Discovery Quest -
Walking and Outdoor Activity Therapy
Project:
Promote
healthier lifestyles
through challenging 6 month walking
programmes, where people get quality time spent in green and wild
places.
Wilderness Foundation -
TurnAround Project:
Manage an
ongoing 10-12 month
community based, holistic intervention programme aimed at vulnerable
14-17 year old young people from Mid-Essex.
The
programme is a structured combination of wilderness trails, one-to-one
mentoring by community volunteers, skills workshops, nature based
activity/education days, dedicated tutoring and work experience form
local employers.
Dementia Adventure -
Enable people living with dementia
to connect with nature and engage in adventure activities.
Essex County
Council - Generations Growing Together:
An intergenerational approach to social activities which actively
encourages the 'breaking down' of barriers and challenges, negative
stereotypes and behaviour. It encourages participation in
intergenerational neighbourhood growing areas, such as allotment
activities.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust - Youth Outdoor Experience:
Provide structured outdoor activities in local green spaces for
young people to help them build exercise outdoors into their lifestyle.
