Trees Support Health
In recent years, research has demonstrated the vast array of mental and physical health benefits that trees can provide. Intuitively known by tree lovers for thousands of years, evidence now supports the argument that trees are important not just for their own sake, or as part of the ecosystem, but also for a myriad of ways in which they support human mental and physical health.
Time with Trees
Simply spending time amongst trees and in woodlands can have huge benefits to wellbeing. The annual mental health benefits associated with visits to the UK's woodlands are estimated to be £185 million. For many people woodlands and trees provided solace and calm during the stress and anxiety of the 2020-21 coronavirus lockdowns. The effect of trees on stress levels has been documented physically as well: scientists have discovered that spending time in woodlands reduces salivary cortisol levels, a key marker for stress and anxiety. Spending time in woodlands also increases levels of nature-connection, a feeling of connectedness and inter-being with the world around, which can have numerous positive mental health benefits.
Trees Positive Impact
Trees have an impact on physical health as well. Beyond the positive benefits to physical health of getting outside and spending time exercising amongst trees and woodland, the wider environmental benefits of trees have a huge positive impact on public health. Trees help filter air pollution, improving air quality; they take up water, reducing the risk of flooding; they cool the air temperature and provide shade in hot weather; and they store carbon, helping to mitigate the impact of climate change. They also provide a habitat for a range of wildlife, increasing biodiversity and having knock-on effects on wellbeing and quality of life for local residents as a result.
Benefits of Nature
Given the benefits of spending time amongst trees outdoors, it is hardly surprising that some of the same positive effects, particularly on mental health, have been found in studies of people's responses to images or art of trees indoors. There is evidence that looking at images or videos of nature can provide similar stress relieving benefits to being physically in the natural environment; indeed, some hospitals are now trialling the use of VR experiences of the natural world to provide benefits to patients in ICU units who are unable to access the outdoors due to their health. Art depicting trees and the natural environment can also provide these benefits, and a calming image to look at indoors is a good second best when recreation physically amongst trees cannot occur.
Extensive Benefits of Trees
In summary, the health benefits of trees are both extensive and effective - they provide an antidote to the stress of modern life, an opportunity for a deep connection with nature, and improve the liveability of our habitats for all.
Dr Miriam Dobson, March 2022
Centre for Sustainable Healthcare coordinator of the NHS Forest network
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