There has been quite a bit written and discussed recently about the mental health benefits of getting out into nature especially in urban environments. COVID19 highlighted the relief that being outside in nature gave us. We speak with Dr. Melissa Marselle (see our previous conversation as well on Complex Patterns, Biodiversity and Nature Views”) on how nature especially in cities has helped us deal with stressors of the pandemic and the consequences of lockdown, how it has enabled us to meet other people safely, get out of our homes and also offer us the opportunity for physical activity. Melissa discusses over 40 years of research which consistently shows that a natural environment has beneficial and restorative effects on us.

She shares with us what types and qualities of nature are best for the health and wellbeing of people and the planets looking at greenspace, water, planting and spaces that promote biodiversity and more. We have just entered the UN Decade of Rewilding (launched June 2021), where we hope to see more nature being brought into cities and biodiversity encouraged. Improving our urban environment with nature is so important now more than ever. With urban stressors such as noise, pollution, crowding, etc contributing to poor physical and mental health we need something to counteract the negative impacts on us, especially as it is predicted that there will be more than 5 billion people living in cities in the next five years and we are losing more nature as we build on greenbelt and agricultural land.

Melissa makes a call for creating environments that are good for us, to have green and blue spaces within 100m of where we live. It’s been proven that having street trees within that distance for instance reduces the need to take anti-depressants. Having the beauty of nature around us encourages a sense of place, what is also referred to as “place identity”. In our previous interview we discussed the benefits of complex patterns, how biodiversity in an urban setting helps our wellbeing. In this podcast we chat about the awe and wonderment that nature inspires in us, which uplifts, brings joy and happiness to help us build the capabilities to help deal with life stressors.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have interconnected green spaces, encouraging active travel and physical activity, community spaces, and more including reducing city temperatures and creating urban farms for sustainability and further reduction in pollution. We are losing pollinators, our cities are getting hotter, bringing nature into cities has so many benefits. If we all pull together and share what we know with those who are deciding on how our future cities will look, from those who build them to those who will fund them (that’s mostly us the tax payer by the way…) then maybe our natural world will be there for use to help heal, inspire and flourish with us.

To connect with Melissa and follow her research visit: Twitter: @MelissaMarselle | Google Scholar

Website: www.surrey.ac.uk/people/melissa-marselle

Nature and Health in an Urban Setting

Vanessa Champion