11/06/2026
We all know how good a walk in the country makes us feel but in her fantastic talk last night Professor Catherine Loveday shared the science behind this - a huge body of work has found how being in nature, and even seeing pictures or TV shows about nature, trees and forests, can make a difference to our health and wellbeing.
What the studies found!
• Being in nature can boost the immune system, lower stress, improve attention and even help pregnancy outcomes.
• People who had more access to green space have more brain tissue - and a bigger brain!
• Tree canopies are particularly beneficial. They act like a natural roof or umbrella, whether it is a dense collection of trees in a forest or the leafy, interconnected tops of street trees in a city. In studies tree canopies have been linked to reduced rates of cardiovascular disease, asthma, and stress.
• Just hearing nature for 30 minutes improves mood and cognition
• The more nature you’re exposed to, the higher your life expectancy. A 0.1% increase in the amount of green in your environment reduces mortality by 3% - based on a study of 9 million people.
• Blue spaces count too – people living 5km from the coast have better mental health than those living over 50km away, but only for those on lower incomes. People on higher incomes will travel to the coast.
Why do green and blue spaces benefit us?
Green spaces give our brains a real rest. Away from urban noise and threat, we naturally relax, and the simple, soothing patterns of nature are easy for the brain to process. A change of scenery acts like a mental reset, often sparking positive memories and interrupting unhelpful rumination - those unhelpful spirals of thought - helping us feel more present.
Top tips for boosting your wellbeing with nature? Aim to access green spaces regularly - try a daily early morning walk and really take in the sounds, shapes and smells around you. Growing plants, indoors or out, also brings a little calm. And if you’d like company while you walk, join a walking group. Age UK Barnet runs six walking groups in lovely green spaces across the borough. Email [email protected] to find out more.
