Resources
Resources are categorised into the following sections:
What is STH
Dose of Nature evidence resource
This link will take you to some good sources of evidence for the mental and physical health benefits of nature
The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith
Introducing the book, The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith. An excellent explanation of why gardening is good for mental wellbeing.
Research
Research into the effectiveness of horticultural and nature-based activities for mental health and wellbeing.
Affective responses to urban but not to natural scenes depend on inter-individual differences in childhood nature exposure
Article in Journal of Environmental Psychology, vol 82, Aug 22, 101840 by Koivisto M and Grassini S Do humans have a hard-wired tendency to respond with positive affects to nature or do individual's meanings and learning experiences moderate the affective responses to natural or urban scenes? The results suggested that humans may have an inherited hard-wired tendency to respond with positive affects to nature, whereas the affective responses to urban scenes are more influenced by individual factors.
Benefits of horticultural therapy for older adults
A systematic review of 15 existing studies looked at the effect of horticultural therapy on more than 1000 older adults. The evidence showed that HT improved physical function and quality of life, mood, and BMI, and that it might help with blood pressure and immunity.
Evidence
Evidence presented by a registered charity of the mental health benefits of engaging with the natural world.
Evidence
This is a very useful collection of evidence and resources covering all aspects of green space and health from NHS Forest.
Exposure to green/blue space and its effect on 14-25 year olds
A review of studies about the effect for anxiety and depression in 14 - 25 year olds on exposure to green or blue space 'Experimental studies provided evidence that walking or being in a green space improves mood and state anxiety immediately following the intervention. Non-randomised evaluations and observational studies suggest that social interaction, physical activity, and mindfulness mediate the relationship between exposure to green space and mental health. We propose that the absence of noise and restorative qualities of green spaces promotes mindfulness and interrupt rumination, which in turn reduce the risk of anxiety disorders and depression. This review and the resulting conceptual framework provide evidence to healthcare professionals about the value of contact with nature and green social prescribing. For policymakers, it provides evidence about the value of bringing the benefits of forests, vegetation and nature into cities, and ensuring that these spaces are accessible and safe for young people to use.'
Finding Nature Blogpost - Silkmill
Major institutions around the world are realising that a sustainable future requires a new relationship with nature. ... This recognition and progress is driven by research, but the application of that research into policy solutions requires new thinking. The Nature Connection in Policy and Practice event, hosted by University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group, aimed to share this research and its applications and provide a context for generating the kind of new thinking needed for transforming society’s relationship with nature. It was held at Derby’s Silk Mill – the site of the world’s first factory, a starting point of an industrial relationship with nature based on use and control, so a great place to start to forge a new relationship with nature based on care and reciprocity. The event set out to inform, inspire and imagine a vision of a nature connected society.
From Trust Links on the impact on mental health of therapeutic gardening
This study looked at the impact of therapeutic gardening over part of the time of the pandemic. Wood CJ, Barton JL, Wicks CL. The Impact of Therapeutic Community Gardening on the Wellbeing, Loneliness, and Life Satisfaction of Individuals with Mental Illness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(20):13166
Impact, Barriers and Facilitators to people accessing therapeutic gardening
This study looked at the factors which made it easier or harder for stakeholders to refer and engage with the therapeutic gardens run by Trust Links in Essex. Wood CJ, Polley M, Barton JL, Wicks CL. Therapeutic Community Gardening as a Green Social Prescription for Mental Ill-Health: Impact, Barriers, and Facilitators from the Perspective of Multiple Stakeholders. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(20):13612.
Nature Connectedness Research Group
Nature connectedness captures that relationship between people and the rest of nature. Nature connectedness is a measurable psychological construct that moves beyond contact with nature to an individual’s sense of their relationship with the natural world.
Nature-based rehabilitation—experiences from patients with acquired brain injury: an explorative qualitative study
'The study provides insight into participants’ experiences of NBR. They reported that interacting with the natural environment as part of neurorehabilitation enhanced activity. Moreover, being in nature increased their self-efficacy, sense of autonomy, community spirit, cooperation, and joy, and led to a feeling of peace.' Vibholm, A. P., Pallesen, H., Christensen, J. R., & Varning Poulsen, D. (2023). Nature-based rehabilitation—experiences from patients with acquired brain injury: an explorative qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2274874
Nearby nature in lockdown: Practices and affordances for leisure in urban green spaces
Article in Leisure Studies publd online 24 June 22 by King K and Dickinson J The paper explores the reconfiguration of leisure practices during restrictions, utilising theory on affordances and social practices to explore what people valued in urban green spaces and what can be learnt from a period when relationships with these spaces were in sharp focus. The study participants utilised Mobile Instant Messaging Diaries to present their lived experiences first-hand. Participants developed routines that involved engaging with urban green spaces as part of their daily structure, and this brought practices based around meaningful actions in these spaces to the fore. Urban green spaces became meaningful when they served a purpose, when they built knowledge and skill, and when they supported social needs. During lockdown, a patchwork of urban green spaces became useful. The findings call for more attention to be paid to small pockets of urban green space to afford nature connectivity and to the value of a social practice lens as a tool for providers to explore affordances and exclusions.
The importance of ecological quality of public green and blue spaces for subjective well-being
The 'Landscape and Urban Planning' Journal published findings that 'suggest that the ecological quality of publicly accessible open spaces is important for the well-being of residents in Greater London and highlights the need for improving the provision of high-quality green- and bluespaces in urban areas'. Sarah J. Knight, Colin J. McClean, Piran C.L. White, The importance of ecological quality of public green and blue spaces for subjective well-being, Landscape and Urban Planning, Volume 226, 2022, 104510, ISSN 0169-2046, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104510.
The role of connection with nature in empirical studies with physiological measurements: a systematic literature review
Research in which the researchers found 'evidence for a mediating effect of nature connectedness on the associations between nature exposure and cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, cortisol level and mental health. ... Eye-tracking studies have confirmed that this measurement method can be used to investigate nature relatedness at a physiological level, which could be a useful complement to self-report questionnaires in future studies.' Gál, V., Dömötör, Z. The role of connection with nature in empirical studies with physiological measurements: a systematic literature review. BIOLOGIA FUTURA 74, 281–294 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-023-00185-0
The role of nature in emotion regulation processes: An evidence-based rapid review
Valeria Vitale, Marino Bonaiuto, The role of nature in emotion regulation processes: An evidence-based rapid review, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Volume 96, 2024, 102325, ISSN 0272-4944, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102325. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494424000987) Abstract: Aims Natural environments have been widely recognized to have many beneficial effects on emotions and emotion regulation processes. However, this mechanism is still largely overlooked in current research and practice, with only a few studies that specifically investigated these processes applying terminology and approaches grounded in the emotion regulation theories. This review explores the literature regarding how nature-related aspects impact on emotion regulation, considering studies based on relevant emotion regulation concepts and language. The aim is to bridge the nature-health literature with the emotion regulation field, enhancing theoretical development and understanding of the benefits of nature exposure by identifying common terminology and measurement approaches. Methods To inform future research with existing evidence, a rapid review of the literature on this topic was conducted in November 2022. In January 2024, an additional literature search was conducted to incorporate recent articles and update the review. Five databases (PsycInfo, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubPsych) were searched for relevant studies reporting effects of nature exposure and other nature-related aspects (e.g., nature connectedness) on emotion regulation processes. Results Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, twenty-seven relevant articles were selected for the review. The assessment of emotion regulation and nature-related aspects used in the studies were diverse and the research was heterogeneous; therefore, a narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. Overall, nature exposure appears to have a positive im
RGWN Documents
Reading Green Wellbeing Network documents, such as our Articles of Association
RGWN flyer
Flyer showing the members of Reading Green Wellbeing Network. Last updated Jan 2024
RGWN Mental Health leaflet
Leaflet about how nature can help our mental health
RGWN Safeguarding Policy
RGWN is a membership organisation where the members are themselves organisations. RGWN does not generally itself deliver projects. This policy applies where RGWN is directly engaged in providing a service. Where a member organisation is providing a service, whether in conjunction with RGWN and/or another member organisation, their own Safeguarding policy shall apply.
RGWN’s Equal Opportunities, Inclusion and Diversity Policy
RGWN is committed to creating an inclusive culture, tackling discrimination, promoting equality and diversity and providing equality of opportunity. RGWN is opposed to all types of unfair or unlawful discrimination and seeks to ensure that we and our members do not practise or enable it.
