One in 10 Brits now spends less than an hour a week in public green spaces such as parks, community gardens and commons, missing out on major health benefits through lack of access.
People in the UK reported the top health benefits of spending time in nature as better mental health (71%), more relaxed (67%), better mood (64%) and better physical health (63%) according to new research from the Bupa Foundation.
However, many currently aren’t able to access public green spaces due to safety concerns, high costs, or poor facilities, and parents in particular are concerned about the health impacts.
Over half of parents say that young people have less access to public green spaces than they did when growing up, with less than half of parents saying there are ‘plenty’ of green spaces for their children nearby.
Almost one in five parents say there are ‘safety concerns’ with their local green spaces, with others saying the facilities are ‘poor’ or lack facilities such as seating, toilets or play areas. One in 10 also cite issues with litter.
However, 85% of parents want their children to spend more time outside to gain the important physical and mental health benefits.
Anna Russell, Director of the Bupa Foundation, said: “Our health and our planet’s health are deeply connected. That’s why we’re proud to support grassroots projects to improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing and turn grey space to green. By supporting greener, healthier urban spaces across the UK we’re improving the health of our cities and encouraging people to spend more time outdoors to connect with nature.
“Applications for the next group of Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants are now open. We look forward to discovering more organisations, supporting with their projects and making a positive impact to the health of our communities and the environment.”
