At a glance 28: Sustainable social care: the natural environment

Published: August 2010

Key messages

The Sustainable Social Care Programme encourages commissioners of adult social care to promote sustainable development across the sector, particularly to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change. Sustainable development requires us to consider social, economic and environmental outcomes simultaneously. It also means having regard for the needs of future as well as present generations.

For further information about the programme and related resources, please visit the sustainable social care section of this website.

How does the natural environment improve health and help reduce health inequalities?

Numerous studies point to the many benefits of green space for both physical and mental health. This has been expressed in terms of an improvement in blood pressure, cholesterol, restoration, perceived general health and ability to face problems.

Physical health

Local access to safe natural green space is associated with high levels of physical activity, (Bird, 2004, Cohen et al, 2007, Health Council of the Netherlands, 2004), and lower levels of obesity within communities (Ellaway et al, 2005). Evaluation of the national Green Gym® scheme run by BTCV concluded that the overall physical health status of participants improved significantly, and most significantly for people with the poorest physical and mental health (BTCV 2008).

Mental health and resilience

The increased level of physical activity associated with green space also has mental health benefits (Pretty et al 2007, Mind 2007). Additionally, studies suggest that ‘green exercise’ can have more positive mental health benefits than other kinds of exercise (Pretty et al, 2005). Mental health charity Mind found that self-esteem levels increased and depression levels decreased following a green walk (Mind, 2007). The increased physical activity (Ellaway et al, 2005, Cohen et al, 2007) and social cohesion (Kuo et al, 1998, Lewis, 1996), associated with access to green space are known to increase resilience to stress.

Air quality, pollution and climate change

There is a strong link between poor air quality and poor health and premature mortality. It is estimated that it reduces life expectancy in the UK by an average of seven to eight months (DH and DT, 2010). Green space and vegetation have a proven positive effect on air quality. For example, there is evidence that urban trees remove large amounts of air pollution and consequently improve urban air quality (Nowak et al, 2006). One study (Gill et al, 2007) found that an additional ten green spaces can also mitigate ‘urban heat islands’ by up to 4°C (7°F), offering help with climate change (London Climate Change Partnership, 2002).

Active travel

Accessible green space provides an incentive for walking and cycling. Walking or cycling can be a quicker and lower cost alternative to the car or public transport for short trips, and are often the easiest ways for most people to get more physically active, as well as increasing access to jobs and services for many.

Social capital and cohesion

Natural spaces offer opportunities for relaxation (Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 2007b), and have been shown to facilitate higher levels of social contact and social integration (Coley et al, 1997, Sullivan et al, 2004), particularly in underprivileged neighbourhoods (Pretty et al, 2007, Sullivan et al, 2004). Studies have shown that access to a natural environment provides a meeting place for all ages and has a positive effect on social interaction and cohesion for different age groups (Bird, 2007).

Health inequalities

By classifying the population of England on the basis of income deprivation and exposure to green space, research has shown that health inequalities related to income deprivation are lower in populations living in the greenest areas (Mitchell and Popham, 2008). The Marmot Review sets out how the physical as well as social characteristics of communities, and the degree to which these enable and promote healthy behaviours, contribute to inequalities in health (The Marmot Review, 2010).

Nature and the elderly

There is evidence that contact with nature is valued very highly by the elderly, including fresh air and sensory experience: sight, smell, touch and hearing. As an elderly person’s world is reduced as they become less active, access to even a small pocket of nature will be important.

Contact with nature significantly improves concentration, and, for people with dementia, it can introduce positive experience, improve their sense of coherence and reduce aggression and agitation (Bird, 2004).

Benefits to social care service users: case studies

The Marmot Review recommends public policy which improves the availability of good quality open and green spaces across the social gradient. Below are just a few short examples of practical action by local authorities, commissioners, provider organisations and people who use services themselves. They demonstrate how contact with nature and environmental activity contribute to positive social care outcomes. Further detail and additional examples are available on the SCIE website.

Resources and further information

The Sustainable Development Commission publishes evidence and good practice on health and related topics, and supports sustainable development in the NHS via the Good Corporate Citizenship Assessment Model www.corporatecitizen.nhs.uk/pages/about.html which is also applicable to o ther public service organisations. Sustainable development: the key to tackling health inequalities (2010) makes their contribution to the Marmot Review available to a wider audience.

The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) website’s Knowledge pages are a searchable source of information, policy guidance and good practice for local authorities including in the areas of social care, health and the environment.

The Centre for Local Sustainability at the Local Government Information Unit helps councils to improve management of environmental, social and economic resources. The report of the Sustainable Social Care local authority/Northern Ireland health and social care trust Learning Network convened by LGIU is published as Independence, community and environment (Bradshaw et al, 2010).

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) provides information, guidance and case studies on design topics including public space, sustainability and health.

BTCV is a national charity for environmental conservation volunteering. The Green Gym® scheme helps people take exercise outdoors and develop new skills, while participating in activities which improve the environment.

Natural England supports access to the environment in a number of ways including the Walking for Health programme. The cost of doing nothing (Nature England, 2010) is a powerpoint presentation resource for co-ordinators and health professionals who wish to promote WfH.

RSPB actively promotes the links between health and the environment, and has published a number of reports and accessible leaflets providing evidence and case studies.

Greenspace is a charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. It provides and signposts information and resources online.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) publishes guidance in the area of the environment and health, including Physical activity and the environment (NICE, 2008).

Sustainable social care: climate change provides an overview of the key issues for adult social care professionals (Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2010).

References

• Bird, W. (2004). Natural fit: Can green space and biodiversity increase levels of physical activity?
• Bird, W. (2007). Natural thinking: Investigating the links between the natural environment, biodiversity and mental health RSPB (PDF file).
• Bradshaw, G. Sillett, J. and Walker, A. (2010) Report 33: Independence, community and environment: Final report, London: Social Care Institute for Excellence.
• BTCV (2008). BTCV Green Gym national evaluation report: Summary of findings (PDF file) 2008.
• Cohen, D.A., McKenzie, T.L., Sehgal, A., Williamson, S., Golinelli, D. and Lurie, N. (2007). Contribution of public parks to physical activity. American Journal of Public Health, 97:509–14.
• Coley, R.L., Kuo, F.E. and Sullivan, W.C. (1997). Where does community grow? The social context created by nature in Urban Public Housing. Environment and Behavior, 29(4):468–494.
• Department of Health and Department for Transport (2010). Active travel strategy. London:
• Department for Transport. Ellaway, A., Macintyre, S., Xavier, B. (2005). Graffiti, greenery and obesity in adults: secondary analysis of European cross sectional survey. British Medical Journal, 331:611–612.
• Giles-Corti, B., et al. (2005). Increasing walking: how important is distance to, attractiveness and size of public open space. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 28: 169–176.
• Gill et al. (2007). Adapting cities for climate change: The role of the green infrastructure. Built Environment, 33:1 115–133.
• Health Council of the Netherlands and Dutch Advisory Council for Research on Spatial Planning, Nature and the Environment. Nature and Health (2004). The influence of nature on social, psychological and physical well-being. The Hague: Health Council of the Netherlands and RMNO, publication no. 2004/09E; RMNO publication nr A02ae.
• Kuo, F.E., Sullivan, W.C., Coley, R.L. and Brunson, L. (1998). Fertile ground for community: Inner-city neighbourhood common spaces. American Journal of Community Psychology, 26:825–851.
• Lewis, C.A. (1996). Green Nature/Human Nature: The meaning of plants in our lives. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
• London Climate Change Partnership (2002). London’s warming: The impacts of climate change on London. London: Greater London Authority.
• The Marmot Review (2010) Fair Society, Healthy Lives London: The Marmot Review.
• Mind (2007). Ecotherapy: The green agenda for mental health (PDF file).
• Mitchell, R. and Popham, F. (2008). Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational population study. The Lancet, 372:1655–1660.
• Natural England (2010) The cost of doing nothing,
• National Heart Forum (2007). Building health: Creating and enhancing places for healthy, active lives. London: National Heart Forum.
• National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2008). Physical activity and the environment. London: NICE.
• Nowak, D., Crane, D. and Stevens, J. (2006). Air pollution removal by urban trees and shrubs in the United States. Urban Forestry Urban Greening, 4:115–23.
• Pretty, J., Peacock, J., Hine, R., Sellens, M., South, N. and Griffin, M. (2007). Green exercise in the UK Countryside: Effects on Health and Physiological Well-Being, and Implications for Policy and Planning. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 50(2), 211–231.
• Pretty, J., Peacock, J., Sellens, M. Griffin, M. (2005). The mental and physical health outcomes of green exercise. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 15(5):319–337. Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2007b). The Urban Environment. London: The Stationery Office.
• Sustainable Development Commission (2007) The natural environment, health and wellbeing (Healthy Futures 6), London: SDC.
• Social Care Institute for Excellence (2010) Sustainable social care: climate change, London: SCIE.
• Sullivan, W.C., Kuo, F.E. and Depooter, S.F. (2004). The fruit of urban nature: Vital neighborhood space. Environment and Behaviour, 36(5):678–700.