A Countryside for Health and Wellbeing:
The Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Green Exercise
Executive summary
Introduction
How does nature make us feel? Much, of course, depends on economic development, so it seems our own wellbeing has
what else is important in our lives. Is it a good or a bad day? suffered as a consequence.
Irrespective of where we come from, it seems that the
Today, stress and mental ill-health are becoming more
presence of living things makes us feel good. They help us
common, and the associated public health costs are growing.
when we feel stressed, and if there is green vegetation, blue
The World Health Organisation estimates that depression and
sky and water in the scene, then we like it even more. This idea
depression-related illness will become the greatest source of
that the quality of nature affects our mental health is not a new
ill-health by 2020. This is partly because some other
one, but it has not greatly affected the planning of our urban
behaviours, such as smoking, over-eating and high alcohol
and rural environments, nor the setting of public health
consumption, are likely to be coping mechanisms for mental
priorities.
ill-health and stress, and have their own serious
In the UK, more than 80% of people live in urban areas (Defra, consequences. In addition, many urgent physical health
2004), though the greater growth is now in rural areas. Urban challenges, including obesity and coronary heart disease, are
settings by definition have less nature than rural ones. And less also connected to sedentary lifestyles. Yet it is known that
green nature means reduced mental well-being, or at least less physically active people have a lower risk of dying from
opportunity to recover from mental stress. As natural green coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, hypertension and
environments have increasingly come under pressure from colon cancer. In the UK, there is evidence for a dramatic fall in
physical activity over the past 50 years.
www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk
Purpose of research narratives. Components of the questionnaire consisted of
standardised and widely used formats (Euroqol EQ-5D,
There is substantial evidence that links the natural Rosenberg Self–Esteem Scale, Profile of Mood States test),
environment with good physical health and psychological together with additional questions particular to this research.
wellbeing. The ‘Biophilia Hypothesis’ states that the desire for
contact with nature is partly innate. As both physical activity
and nature can positively affect wellbeing, we have
1 Arnside & Silverdale AONB, Lancashire, England –
undertaken research to explore the synergy in adopting conservation work
physical activities whilst being directly exposed to nature. We
2 Glentress Forest Recreation, Borders, Scotland –
have called this ‘green exercise’. mountain biking and walking;
3 Re-Union Canal Boats, Edinburgh, Scotland – canal
Evidence boating;
4 Close House Initiative, Herefordshire, England –
The evidence indicates that nature can make positive
woodland activities;
contributions to our health, help us recover from pre-existing
stresses or problems, have an ‘immunising’ effect by 5 Walking the Way to Health Initiative (WHI), Ballymena,
County Antrim, Northern Ireland - walking;
protecting us from future stresses, and help us to concentrate
and think more clearly. We have discerned three levels of 6 Horse riding club, Lagan Valley, County Antrim,
Northern Ireland – horse riding;
engagement with nature
i. viewing nature – as through a window, or in a painting; 7 Afan Forest Centre, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan,
Wales – mountain biking and walking;
ii. being in the presence of nearby nature – which may be
incidental to some other activity, such as walking or 8 Torfaen Green Gym, Pontypool, Gwent, Wales –
cycling to work, reading on a garden seat or talking to conservation work;
friends in a park; and 9 Walking Out Project, Lincoln, England - walking;
iii. active participation and involvement with nature – such 10 Layer Pit fishing club, Essex, England - fishing
as gardening, farming, trekking, camping, cross-country
running or horse-riding.
Most evidence, though, comes from the USA, Scandinavia
and Japan. There there have been few UK studies on the
effect of nature on health, and very little research has Results of the research
investigated the separate effects of social capital on
The ten case studies represented a variety of activities that
wellbeing.
took place in diverse contexts with varying durations and
intensities. The amount of activity varied from 100 to 650
Methodology calories per hour and from 330 to 3,500 calories per visit.
In this report, we have reviewed on existing green exercise As a result of green exercise, there was a significant
studies in the UK on the effects of the view from the window improvement in self-esteem in 9 out of the 10 case studies,
(University of Essex), on Walking for Health Initiatives, and excluding Arnside and Silverdale (where participants had an
Green Gyms (conservation activities for health). arduous and long day) (Figure 1). The largest change was
detected amongst the Close House participants, followed
We have also undertaken research on the effects of active closely by the fishing group. The smallest increases in self
participation in the countryside. To do this, we conducted a esteem were found in both the walking project groups and the
quantitative analysis of the effects of ten countryside activities Green Gym. [Note a decrease in score equals an increase in
in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on the self-esteem].
health of 263 people. The range of projects incorporated both
group activities (such as the health walks) and activities
Figure 1: Change in self esteem after participating in the activity
which people undertook on their own. This enabled us to
examine whether the health benefits of green exercise were 13
affected by a variation in social capital context. The projects
14
Arnside & Silverdale
are shown in the box.
Index of Self-Esteem
Glentress Forest
15
Re-Union Canal
The data from people taking part in the ten green exercise Close House
16
case studies was obtained in the field by means of a Ballymena WHI
Lagan Valley
composite questionnaire, which was administered both 17 Afan Forest
before and after the activity. The questionnaire was Torfaen Green Gym
18 Walking Out Project
designed to fit all scenarios including different levels of Fishing
19
activity and engagement and contained questions relating
to basic data, physical health, mental health and physical 20
activity. It also included an opportunity to gather qualitative
We found that self-esteem was significantly correlated with an
Figure 4: How often participants have taken part in various levels
individual’s body weight. The heavier the body weight of activity in the last 6 months
% of participants
80
reported, the poorer the self esteem score. We also found that Light Activities
Light activities: Activities like routine Moderate Activities
self-esteem was not affected by the intensity of the green 70 use of stairs, walking for pleasure etc
Vigorous Activites
Moderate activities: Activities like
exercise activities, though it did appear to rise over very long 60 gardening, housework, walking for
exercise, bowling etc.
visits. This is an encouraging finding as it implies that all 50 Vigorous activities: Activities like
playing sports, e.g. racket sports,
intensities and durations of activity generate significant 40 running, swimming and cycling etc.
mental health benefits. 30
20
We also gathered data on the six mood measures assessed
10
using the POMS method. Mood is measured according to six
characteristic themes: anger-hostility, confusion- 0
Daily 2-3 times a Once a Once a Once a Never
bewilderment, depression-dejection, fatigue-inertia, tension- week week fortnight month
anxiety, and vigour-activity. The majority of these showed
significant positive changes in most of the projects (see types and intensities of activity, the possible gains for a more
Figures 2 and 3). inactive group may be substantial.
The full report presents detailed findings on each of the ten
Figure 2: Change in depression - dejection mood measure after
participation in the activity case studies, but from the range of initiatives examined for
43
this research it can be noted that the synergistic effects of
Index of mood
42 green exercise generate many positive physical and mental
41 Arnside & Silverdale health benefits regardless of the level of intensity, duration or
Glentress Forest
Re-Union Canal
type of green activity.
40
Close House
39 Ballymena WHI
Lagan Valley
38 Afan Forest Research implications
Torfaen Green Gym
37 Walking Out Project We conclude therefore that green exercise has important
Fishing
36
implications for public and environmental health. A fitter and
emotionally more content population would clearly cost the
35
economy less, as well as reducing individual human suffering.
Thus increasing support for and access to a wide range of
green exercise activities for all sectors of society should
Figure 3: Change in tension - anxiety mood measure after
participation in the activity produce substantial economic and public health benefits.
44
Index of mood
If green exercise can have such a positive effect on health,
42
Arnside & Silverdale
why then do not more people regularly take exercise and visit
40
Glentress Forest green space? First, it is clear from participation rates that
Re-Union Canal
38
Close House
many people in the UK already do engage in forms of green
36
Ballymena WHI exercise. Each year, some 1.5 billion day visits are made to
Lagan Valley
34 Afan Forest the UK countryside and seaside, and 2.5 billion day visits are
Torfaen Green Gym made to urban parks. The Walking the Way to Health Initiative
32 Walking Out Project
Fishing has already encouraged 900,000 people to walk more. Thus,
30
there is already a health dividend being experienced. On the
28 other hand, health data indicates that a substantial proportion
of the population is obese and too sedentary. It is clear that
An estimation of participants’ physical fitness level was barriers to participation (eg lack of time, feeling too tired from
calculated. Some 70% of individuals reported participating in work, no motivation to take exercise) are affecting different
light activities daily, with the overall majority (97%) groups of people in different ways. Many of these, however,
participating at least once a week. Only 20% engaged in have been overcome in the best projects, and factors that
vigorous activities daily. The average weekly duration for make up best practice in green-exercise land-based and
moderate activities was 404 minutes, which is equivalent to 58 group-based projects – which include attention to good
minutes per day. partnerships, opportunities for feedback, clearly-marked
routes, good information, facilities, successful market
This data shows that the participants studied were a very
research, good staff, a programme of events with clear dates
healthy, active group, who currently meet the Chief Medical
and locations, personality of group leaders, and advertising to
Officer’s physical activity recommendations of 30 minutes of
local people.
moderate activity, five times a week. It re-emphasises the
difficulty in accessing those people who do not currently
engage in regular activity. If this active group of individuals can
derive numerous health benefits from participating in varying
Recommendations
We conclude with sectoral policy recommendations, vi) Social services – who should acknowledge that green
addressing exercise has clear mental health benefits for those people
who engage collectively with existing groups or new
i) Access and recreation providers (including local
groups, and so countryside and local authority agencies
authorities), who need to address maintenance of paths,
should ensure their provision of services at recreation and
sustainable transport, promotion of facilities and provision
leisure locations is focused on encouraging families and
of information.
other groups. Crime/social service agencies should also
ii) Agricultural managers and policy makers, who need to consider the therapeutic value of green exercise.
increase countryside access and encourage the farming
vii) Environmental managers – local and national Biodiversity
industry to promote the opportunity to indicate that land
Action Plans should be rewritten to include a component
management can involve opportunities for public health
on biodiversity activities that contribute to public health.
provision.
viii) Sports and leisure industry – gyms and fitness centres
iii) Schools should ensure that all primary age school children
should improve the green aspects of their facilities, and the
experience visits to a range of types of countryside, and
formal sports sector should emphasise the health value of
where possible establish their own
participation, as some sports (eg football, cricket) draw
on-site gardens; they should also emphasise the public
from a wider range of social groups than most countryside
health value of physical activity for all children.
recreation.
iv) Health sector – which needs to consider the contribution
ix) Partnerships - green exercise has implications for many
that green exercise makes to public wellbeing and saving
sectors, suggesting the need for cross-disciplinary and
money for the NHS. The forthcoming Physical Activity Plan
sectoral strategies and action, and so countryside
should emphasise the value of nature and green space for
agencies should market the countryside as a health
formal and informal use, and also stress the therapeutic
resource, and the private sector, particularly the food
value of the outdoors (both rural and urban) for delivering
manufacture and retail industry, should be engaged in
mental wellbeing.
partnerships for provision of both healthy food and healthy
v) Planners and developers – who should take account of the places where the food is raised and grown.
vital role that local green space (or nearby nature) plays for
all people, and regard outdoor recreational activities as
part of economic regeneration strategies in both rural and
urban economically depressed areas.
Authors: Jules Pretty1, Murray Griffin1, Jo Peacock1, Rachel Hine1, Martin Sellens1 and Nigel South2
1Department of Biological Sciences University of Essex, Colchester and
2Department of Health and Human Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester
The research was commissioned and funded jointly by members of the Countryside Recreation Network (CRN). These members
are British Waterways, Countryside Agency, Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs, Department for Culture, Media
and Sport, English Nature, Environment Agency, Environment and Heritage Service, Forestry Commission, Hampshire County
Council and Sport England.
For further information please contact
Countryside Recreation Network, Sheffield Hallam University, Unit 7, Sheffield Science Park, Howard Street, Sheffield S1 2LX.
Telephone 0114 225 4494.
www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk
