William Eichler 05 May 2022

Mental health impacted by decline in green space

Mental health impacted by decline in green space  image
Image: Richard Whitcombe/Shutterstock.com.

Green space provision in and around housing developments has dramatically declined over the last century with negative consequences for the mental health of residents, new research has found.

New analysis by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has revealed that on average the total amount of public greenspace within developments has reduced by a third over the last century from 13% of the space to just 9%.

There has been a 40% reduction in the average size of the nearest park for properties built in the last decade compared to those built 80 years earlier, with a 30% decrease since the developments of the 1990s, the NEF found.

Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, Wildlife and Countryside Link and the NEF, are highlighting the worrying implications this trend is likely to have for the mental and physical wellbeing of people in newer neighbourhoods.

Spending time in natural spaces is linked to improved life satisfaction, reduced anxiety and increased happiness, with 70% of UK adults saying that being close to nature improves their mood.

‘For too long our heads have been turned away as poor planning and austerity politics have chipped away at people’s connection with nature. These new numbers shine a light on the death-by-a-thousand-cuts of one of our greatest national assets,’ said Dr Alex Chapman, senior researcher at the New Economics Foundation.

‘As long as we remain wedded to our short-term profit-driven planning model, private developers will continue to cut corners on the size and quality of green space provision. High quality, biodiverse, urban nature is already becoming a luxury enjoyed by the wealthy and, without action, could become a thing of the past. Local authorities urgently need the funding and powers to protect and enhance community access to nature.’

Those living in post-2000 dominated developments are 30% more likely to report that they do not ‘feel part of nature’, and are 5% less likely to visit nature. NEF’s analysis suggests the decline in green space provision seen post-2000 can now be associated with at least nine million fewer trips to green space per year.

Mark Rowland, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said: ‘The New Economics Foundation findings that fewer and fewer housing developments are prioritising the creation of natural spaces is a huge step backwards in creating pro-social environments that nourish people’s mental health. Research clearly shows that green spaces are good for us. They lift us emotionally and also foster the human connections that are so vital for our mental health.

‘As we will highlight next week during Mental Health Awareness Week, natural spaces are a powerful antidote to loneliness, which can be toxic to our mental health. Planning policy must reflect this to actively create more and better green and blue spaces in our communities that will both benefit the natural world, and help prevent mental health problems.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Part Time (afternoons) Customer Services Assistant

Essex County Council
£22361 - £24309 per annum + pro rata
Part Time (afternoons) Customer Services Assistant - Adult Community LearningFixed Term - 24 Months duration, Part Time - 18.5 hours per weekUp to £24 England, Essex, Clacton-On-Sea
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Advanced Skills Worker

Essex County Council
£31525 - £36041 per annum
Advanced Skills WorkerPermanent, Full Time£31,525 to £36,041 per annum (includes allowances)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Residential Worker

Essex County Council
£24863 - £31728 per annum
Residential WorkerPermanent, Full Time£24,863 to £31,728 per annum (includes allowance)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Duty Senior Practitioner - Assessment & Intervention (A&I) Mid

Essex County Council
£43477 - £52302 per annum
Duty Senior Practitioner - Assessment & Intervention (A&I) MidPermanent, Full Time£43,477 to £52,302 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Graduate Procurement Trainee

Essex County Council
£25739 - £30282 per annum
Are you a Graduate, or will be graduating in Summer 2024? Do you have an interest in Procurement and looking to start a career in this industry? England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.