Green Therapy - How you can benefit from health-promoting greenspace
As the warm summer memories begin to fade and the fall finds us slowly moving towards colder months, our thoughts continue to dwell on the importance of healthy places and spaces found outdoors. So often we hear about the benefits of things like green space, parks, and public spaces having an opportunity to benefit the health of ourselves and others - but what does this supposed health benefit actually mean, and how can we benefit from it?
Back in 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office of Europe recognized that the busy pace of our lives alone could negatively impact our health and that the natural environment plays a significant role in how our health is shaped. In their published report Urban Greenspace and Health they recognized that “modern urban lifestyle is associated with chronic stress, insufficient physical activity and exposure to environmental hazards.” Does any of that sound familiar?
WHO further describes that “urban green spaces, such as parks and residential greenery, can promote mental and physical health, and reduce morbidity (disease rates) and mortality (the chance of dying) by providing psychological relaxation and stress relief. WHO also recognized that these same types of spaces stimulate social cohesion (our relationship to our communities and to one another), support health-promoting physical activity, and even reduce exposure to air pollutants, noise, and excessive heat. See more: Urban green spaces and health - WHO
In the application of landscape architecture, the mention of residential greenery should especially pique your interest. Let’s look further at how landscaping plays a role in both mental and physical health benefits. In a Health and Livable Communities feature from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), it goes on to say that, “working with landscape architects, communities can promote human health and well-being by encouraging the development of environments that offer rich social…and environmental benefits.” The ASLA further identifies that “preserving and enhancing valuable natural resources…can create a unique sense of community and place.” (See more: Healthy and Livable Communities l asla.org)
While the health benefits of civic and public placemaking are known in the public realm, it may actually be the possibility of creating such spaces directly out your front or back door that could bring these mental and physical health benefits to you.
The actual act of gardening itself is highlighted by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in an article about growing your own food UNH states, “The physical activity required in gardening has proven to promote physical health” and that, “involvement in gardening helps to improve cardiac health and immune system response, decrease
heart rate and stress, improve fine and gross motor skills, flexibility and body strength and that getting regular exercise can relieve stress, anxiety, and depression while boosting energy. (See more: 5 Reasons To Grow Your Own Food l Healthy UNH).
Environmental design is a practice that has health benefits far beyond the actual act of simply gardening as well. Environmental designers work on both public and private spaces, used for leisure, recreational, commercial, or living purposes including parks, gardens, green roofs, courtyards, and public squares. ( See more: Environmental Design/Architecture l Careers & Sample Curriculum). DMagazine our of Dallas, TX further describes the mental health aspects of nature that can be accomplished through this type of environmental design, “one way designers can accomplish a sense of serenity (in healthcare spaces) is by improving access to nature,” the article further cities outdoor recreation areas and healing gardens as further contributing to well-being. (See more: How Design Can Impact Health Outcomes and Serve the Whole Patient).
In another feature by the ASLA, citing new research on the built environment they state, “nature is our original context, humans also have an innate biophilia — a deep attraction to and affinity for nature.” (See more: New Research: The Built Environment Impacts Our Health and Happiness More Than We Know). While a study out of Cornell University finds that as little as 10 minutes outdoors begins to lower your blood pressure and improve our overall mood and focus. (See more: Spending time in nature reduces stress, research finds l Cornell Chronicle). These studies are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to connecting the dots between dwelling in nature and lowering our stress and anxiety.
Green Therapy at Home
So the mental and physical benefits of healthy green spaces are clear but how can they be applied to your home or workplace? Landscape for Life further illustrates that “our gardens and home landscapes are where many of us have our only daily contact with outdoor, natural environments…which offer a place to gather with family and friends, a safe place for children to play, and a personal, quiet respite from the stresses of life. They offer opportunities for physical exercise, which can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers, and they provide places for mental restoration, which can reduce the risk of hypertension, mental fatigue, and irritability,”
LFL further illustrates that to accomplish these goals that your garden/landscape should have sustainable environmental design with, “spaces that create a comforting sense of enclosure, and vegetation can break, guide, deflect or filter the noise and other less desirable environmental conditions - such as excessive winds or prolonged sun exposure. LDL also describes how gardens and home landscapes also, “enhance a multisensory aesthetic with diverse sights, sounds, and scents afforded by a grove of trees, a water feature or patches of blooming flowers, along with textures represented in bark and foliage, fruit and seeds.” (See more: Landscape for Life).
How can RPKLA create a sustainable and health promoting space for you?
Perhaps you are looking for the opportunity to create a space where you can calmly reflect and enjoy the mental health benefits of nature right in your own backyard. Perhaps it is the ability to create beautiful new gardens that will allow you to nurture yourself and your plants and flowers. Perhaps you are looking for a space that will allow you to safely gather with friends and family to build around the spirit of needed togetherness and relationships. Help us make life better outside for you, see how our Landscape Architecture, Master Planning & Sustainable Design can suit your needs and please reach out to us to start a new idea and conversation. Beginning the plan to create a healthy vibrant outdoor green space can never happen too early, let us help design a new space of green therapy to treat yourself right out your back door.
