Beyond Greenspace: linking ecological, socioeconomic and health data to deepen our understanding of relationships between nature, health and wellbeing

There is growing interest in understanding how natural environments may support good health and wellbeing. Researchers have investigated effects of natural spaces on health behaviours, physical and mental health, and socio-economic health inequalities. Generally, positive relationships are demonstrated, and some explanatory theories for positive effects have been proposed. These include provision of locations and motivation for physical activity and opportunities for 'restoration' from the stresses of daily life. However, the evidence is mixed and occasionally contradictory. One reason for this variation may be related to the crude definitions of the natural environment or 'greenspace'. Researchers often consider all natural areas together regardless of type, variety or quality. Natural areas, whether urban or rural, actually encompass a wide range of environmental characteristics which may have differing impacts on people's behaviours, health and wellbeing. The lack of a nuanced consideration of nature with regard to its human health and wellbeing impacts has been highlighted as a gap in the evidence in several systematic reviews of existing research.

The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of relationships between natural environments and health by addressing the question: Do different types and qualities of natural environment have varying relationships with human health and wellbeing, and do these relationships differ according to rural/urban context and socio-economic status? This will be achieved by using some of the UK's extremely valuable existing (secondary) datasets. Secondary datasets are very useful for this research because a) they have already been funded, collected and processed, so are very cost-effective and b) they tend to be very large, allowing us to address complex research questions. Our project will integrate two types of secondary data: 1) health and socio-economic status data (such as from the census and household surveys) and 2) indicators of ecological type (e.g. grassland, woodland, coast) and character (e.g. biodiversity, ecosystem quality, designated status). These relationships will initially be explored at a national level. This will be complemented by a case study using detailed local environmental data, which is only available at a smaller scale. The dual approach will allow for the cross-validation of findings. The analyses will mainly take an epidemiological approach, but the interdisciplinary nature of the team, research question and data means that a mix of social and natural science methods will be used.

The project will be led by a cross-disciplinary research team and advisory board incorporating experienced researchers in epidemiology, ecology, geography, sociology and psychology. It will benefit from collaboration with public and third sector bodies - Natural England, Forest Research and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Expected outcomes include advances in knowledge of direct environment/health policy relevance, developments in methodology and theory, increased research capacity, and (dependant on permissions) an ecological indicator dataset suitable for further linkage with population data. The outcomes will be of interest to academic and other public/private research end users. The evidence produced will allow Natural England, the Forestry Commission, Local Authorities and other organisations who manage the natural environment for human benefit to develop appropriate national and locally context relevant responses to policies such as those set out in the new DEFRA white paper 'The Natural Choice'. This research will facilitate the effective allocation of resources and the development of targeted interventions and programmes resulting in maximised benefit to the environment, society and individual. The project findings will be shared through various means including academic publication, international conference presentations, websites and networking events.

This research involving three key project partners has the potential to result in tangible advances in methodology and knowledge which will be of immediate relevance for health and environmental management, policy and practice. Specifically we expect the following sector-oriented impacts:

Health and Social Care Sector: There is increasing interest in: 1) the environmental determinants of health; and 2) how natural environments can be used to support good health. This research will contribute further understanding in relation to both these points. The evidential outcomes will assist organisations including
a) NHS organisations
b) Public Health England and public health departments in their new local authority setting
c) the new Health and Wellbeing Boards
d) innovative social enterprises using natural environments therapeutically (e.g. Dementia Adventure)

We will work with existing practice/policy partners from the health sector to ensure effective dissemination of findings.

Environmental Management & Policy: The research will benefit those involved in the management of the natural environment though the development of novel methodologies and new, more comprehensive evidence on benefits of environments. Beneficiaries will include:
a) Natural England (project partner)
b) Forest Research (project partner) and consequently Forestry Commission
c) Cornwall Wildlife Trust (project partner) and consequently other Wildlife Trusts
d) Defra, Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales
d) Local Nature Partnerships (project researchers are involved in the new Cornwall LNP)
e) Managers of protected/designated areas such as National Park Authorities and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
f) Landscape designers/architects

The evidence will allow these and other bodies that manage natural environments to develop and improve appropriate national and local responses to policies set out in the 2010 DEFRA white paper 'The Natural Choice' and guidance such as Natural England's Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard. The research will also directly benefit environmental and health/social charities through the provision of clear evidence facilitating the most effective allocation of resources and development of interventions and programmes resulting in maximised benefit to the environment, society and individual. Further beneficiaries include local community groups seeking to protect, manage and use their natural environment under the new Localism Act.

Environmental/health data management and use: A primary aim of this research is to develop methodologies for geographical linkage of data from mixed sources. Advances in this field would be of interest to a wide range of data creators and users; academic, public, private and third sector. Currently much relevant evidence is silo-ed according to disciplinary origin, created using different methodologies, is at varying scales and can be unavailable to many research end-users. This project will attempt to overcome many of these issues; primarily by bringing methods and evidence to a wide range of users and highlighting the value of secondary data.

Non-academic research organisations: The project will facilitate the development of cooperative research between academic and public organisations including Natural England and Forest Research, enabling mutual skill development, for instance through a researcher exchange, the building of research capacity and sharing of methods and data.

Pathways to Impact describes our comprehensive impact strategy, which includes: academic papers in high impact journals and presentations at international conferences; policy-relevant evidence briefing sheets based on key findings; stakeholder engagement conferences; media communications; web dissemination.