Engaging with nature benefits human health and wellbeing. Fact. Walking in nature, gardening, sitting on a park bench and even watching nature through a window have all been shown to be beneficial. Engaging with nature can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve cognitive functioning, build self-esteem and confidence, and improve physical health.

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Walking in nature

The benefits of walking in nature have also been shown to benefit healthy populations as well as people suffering from a range of mental health issues.

One university study randomly allocated university students to either walk in nature, walk indoors,  or passively view a nature film on television and found that walking in nature resulted in significantly greater improvements in physiological and mental wellbeing than walking indoors or watching a nature film. These benefits were particularly prominent during stressful times (eg exam periods).

Gardening

The benefits of gardening include reducing depression and anxiety, promoting recovery from stress, and helping people to develop social relationships. Gardening can offer these benefits by providing a distraction from everyday stressors and demands, by immersing people in nature, promoting physical activity, encouraging social interactions, and providing a sense of purpose and meaning.

One study conducted a survey among 8,500 secondary school children in New Zealand; it found that those involved in gardening at home were of better physical and mental health and had more positive family relationships. Frequent gardening is clearly beneficial, but even relatively short gardening sessions can benefit wellbeing. 

Another study randomly allocated 30 gardeners to either spend 30 minutes attending to their allotments or 30 minutes reading on their own allotment plot. Continuous monitoring of cortisol levels and self-reported mood showed that gardening was significantly more effective in improving mood and reducing stress than reading.

Young people and nature

Engaging with nature not only benefits adults. Evidence shows that young people who spent more time in and near natural environments are in better mental health.

For instance, one study tracked the movements and mood of 150+ adolescents using GPS systems and found a significant positive correlation between the amount of green space the adolescents were exposed to and the extent to which they reported being in a positive mood.

Another study found that children coped better with stressful life events when they lived near natural spaces. Even short-term exposure to nature can benefit young people’s wellbeing. 

The conclusion? Get yourself in the outdoors! Breathe in the fresh air and engage with nature. It’s going to do you a power of good!