Green space - the key to health
Direct benefits
Vitamin G is the new way to describe those health-giving benefits that flow from plants and green space. It’s been given that name because the results are as evident under scientific analysis as they are for the vitamins that we’ve recognised for years.
Analysis of over 360 000 medical records of patients in the Netherlands reveals that more green space in living environments results in fewer visits to the doctor with complaints such as depression, diabetes, COPD (emphysema/bronchitis) and dizziness. Benefits are especially pronounced among people from lower socio-economic bands, children and the elderly.
The relationship between green space and health
| Complaints | Prevalence per 1000 | | | 10% Green Space | 90% Green Space | | Depression | 32
| 24
| COPD (emphysema etc)
| 26
| 20
| | Diabetes Mellitus | 10
| 8
| | Coronary Heart Disease | 2
| 1.5
| Total
| 70
| 53.5
|
How does it work?
The key to the ‘Vitamin G’ effect, according to researcher Dr Jolanda Maas from NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research) is the lower stress levels that result from spending time in and around green environments. Enhanced physical activity and the social contact that also tends to flow from being in these kinds of environments also has a major impact in boosting the healing effect. Put simply, people are more inclined to walk or cycle, play outside and mix socially with neighbours if there is plenty of green space, all of which contributes to physical and emotional well-being. Feeling well is the best stress-buster of all and is guaranteed to give the body’s own healing mechanisms the best chance of working effectively.
Green space: the essential ingredient
Dr Mass presents a strong argument: “Green space is more than just a luxury product, it actively promotes health”. Plus, people feel safer when they live in a greener environment. These findings point to the need for green space to be allocated a more central position in spatial planning policy. Natural England (the government’s advisor on the natural environment), as part of its ‘Natural Health Service Manifesto’ also highlights that providing easy access to green space is one of the most important and cost effective health initiatives that we can make and calls on the UK government to increase the number of households that are located within a five minute walk green space areas that are five acres or larger.
Green space in healthcare
The results of this project reinforce the desirability of green space related therapies becoming more integrated into mainstream health care. GPs should continue to promote initiatives such as Natural England’s ‘Walking the Way to Health’ and health walks. Medical professionals across the board should inform themselves of the value of green gyms, ‘Care Farms’ and related green space based therapies. All health care facilities, nursing or care homes should have gardens where patients, residents or visitors can benefit from ‘green medicine’. Landscape professionals should promote the validity and worth of green space and related therapies within our own communities.
This research was supported by grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and was executed by NIVEL and Alterra research institute, (part of Wageningen University).
The Green City initiative is pleased to promote the Vitamin G concept in the UK because of the contribution it makes to this important topic. Read more on this and stay up-to-date by visiting www.thegreencity.co.uk
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