A natural experiment of the effects of "greening" the environment on physical activity and wellbeing
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Behavioural indicators of wellbeing, such as being physically active, taking notice of one's environment and connecting with other people, have been identified using evidence-based methods. Changing the outdoor physical environment has much potential to bring about changes in these behaviours on a large scale as such interventions reach a large number of people. One promising means of doing this is to increase the quantity and quality of green infrastructure in publicly owned and publicly accessible sites such as canalsides, and mini-parks. There is much evidence that exposure to green or other natural environments is associated with subjective measures of wellbeing as well as objective behavioural indicators, but experimental evidence is limited.
Aim
Develop a greater theoretical understanding of the circumstances under which "greening" interventions result in increases in wellbeing
Understand how changes in green infrastructure affect wellbeing using multi-perspective qualitative methods
Develop formal guidance for future research on this topic in the UK, based on empirical evidence
Aim
Develop a greater theoretical understanding of the circumstances under which "greening" interventions result in increases in wellbeing
Understand how changes in green infrastructure affect wellbeing using multi-perspective qualitative methods
Develop formal guidance for future research on this topic in the UK, based on empirical evidence
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000665/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 1881328 | Studentship | ES/P000665/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2020 | Jack Benton |
| Description | Improving or creating new urban green spaces is a potentially promising approach to enhance population wellbeing. Mounting cross-sectional evidence suggests that having access to urban green spaces (such as parks, woodlands and tree-lined streets) can provide a range of potential benefits for wellbeing. However, robust evidence on the most effective ways to deliver these wellbeing benefits remains limited. Producing robust evidence is crucial to better inform the many policies in the UK and Europe that are now beginning to recommend improving or creating new urban green spaces as an approach to enhance population wellbeing. Addressing this research gap is urgent due to rapid urbanisation, with more people living in dense built-up urban areas with limited access to high-quality green space. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted this as a priority, as local-area urban green spaces play a key role in buffering the negative effects of social isolation and stressful life events. Building on the Five Ways to Wellbeing approach to mental wellbeing promotion, a range of new robust methods were developed to help researchers conduct rigorous evaluations of the wellbeing effects of creating new or improving existing urban green spaces. Examples of methodological innovations developed include a new observation tool for assessing three wellbeing-related behaviours (physical activity, social interactions, taking notice of the environment) and a new method for identifying well-matched comparison sites. These new methods were implemented in two evaluations of real-world urban green space interventions in Greater Manchester. In the first study, in partnership with a local housing association in a deprived neighbourhood in Manchester, a small-scale tree planting initiative developed and implemented by the local community was evaluated. No effects were observed of small-scale tree planting, despite expectations of the housing association that delivered the intervention. The intervention was not substantial enough to cause behaviour change, especially compared to other recent neighbourhood changes in the area. In the second study, in partnership with a private developer in Salford, an evaluation was conducted to assess the impact of new canal walking infrastructure. There were large effects of the changes on canal use and multiple wellbeing outcomes. This study suggests that even relatively small-scale interventions which improve access to green corridors along canals and provide separate routes for different types of physical activities can have measurable impacts on the use of urban green spaces. This evidence will be particularly useful given the increasing interest in evidence-informed urban design policies and practices. |
| Exploitation Route | A suite of methods has been produced that will enable future researchers to conduct robust methods to produce wellbeing impact evidence in relation to the urban physical or social environment. In particular, the observation tool developed is an inexpensive and easy-to-use method for assessing three levels of physical activity (Sedentary, Walking, Vigorous) and two other evidence-based wellbeing behaviours (Connect: social interactions; Take Notice: taking notice of the environment) in urban spaces. Producing better evidence like this is vital to ensure limited funding available for investing in urban green spaces in the UK is utilised most effectively and better inform future policy and practice, particularly as many UK policy and industry guidelines advocate improving urban green spaces as an effective approach to support health and wellbeing, without sufficient robust evidence to inform decisions. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Description | Local authorities are now beginning to use the methods and tools developed during the PhD research. For example, the observation tool for assessing wellbeing-related behaviours is now being used by a local authority in Greater Manchester (Trafford Council) to monitor usage of the largest municipal park in Trafford. The research is also influencing local authorities outside of Manchester, such as the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, who have recommended the robustness of this gold standard research in a policy report on how to make the best use of small pockets of urban green space (CSaP, 2018), which was made possible through networks with the Green Infrastructure & Biodiversity team at Manchester City Council. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Title | MOHAWk (Method for Observing pHysical Activity and Wellbeing) |
| Description | A newly developed tool for systematically observing physical activity and two other behavioural indicators of wellbeing (social interactions and taking notice of the environment) in urban spaces such as pocket parks, town squares, tree-lined streets and green corridors along waterways. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Currently in talks with local authorities (e.g. Manchester, Norfolk) to use the tool on an on-going evaluative basis. |
| Description | Manchester City Council |
| Organisation | Manchester City Council |
| Department | Manchester Libraries |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Potential for observation tool (MOHAWk) to be used to evaluate urban green spaces by Neighbourhoods team |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide details on potential opportunities for environmental interventions that can be evaluated |
| Impact | Discussing potential for observation tool (MOHAWk) to be used in practice |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Business Impact conference presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Oral conference presentation at the Valuing Nature Business Impact Conference where I talked about our robust and innovative research methods, and how they can be used to capture the wellbeing impacts of urban green space interventions: Benton JS, Anderson J, Pulis M, Cotterill S, Hunter RF, & French DP. Measuring wellbeing from your nature-based interventions. Oral presentation to the Valuing Nature Business Impact Conference, London, England, 21 February 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A PPI group workshop to explore public views on the acceptability of using observation methods in public spaces to assess wellbeing-related behaviours. A number of protocols were put in place as a result of this workshop, including the use of hi-vis jackets for observers and public information letters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |