According to the UK government’s new environmental improvement plan for England, if it takes more than 15 minutes to walk to your nearest green space then action needs to be taken. This is the reality for 38% of people in England who don’t have any green space within a 15-minute walk of their home.
Recognising the importance of connecting with nature, and that time spent outdoors is good for physical and mental health, the plan promises a new and ambitious commitment to work across government and beyond to provide access to local green and blue spaces.
Researchers have been demonstrating the impact nature has on our mental health and wellbeing for many years. This has been further amplified since the COVID-19 pandemic when the importance of local green space was at an all-time high.
The Benefits of Green Spaces on Our Mental Health
It is widely reported that green spaces have positive effects on our mental health. People that spend at least two hours a week in nature experience better health and higher psychological wellbeing compared to those who spend less time in nature.
Growing evidence continues to suggest that green spaces can also help to provide a buffer against the negative health impacts of stressful life events and can lower levels of stress, reduce rates of depression and anxiety, and improve general well-being. People who are more connected with nature are usually happier in life and more likely to report feeling their lives are worthwhile. Nature can also generate a multitude of positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, creativity and can facilitate concentration. So, not only can a simple walk amongst nature boost your mood, but it also improves your cognitive function and memory.
Green spaces such as nature reserves, wilderness environments and urban parks also promote certain behaviours, such as encouraging physical activity within the space, which is a pro-mental health behaviour. Experimental studies have shown that not only do green spaces promote experience, but they may be better for mental health than activity in other environments. Those that exercise in natural environments once a week are at about half the risk of poor mental health as those that don’t.
The importance of green spaces was even further heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic when nature quickly became a source of solace for many. Lockdown rules reinforced our appreciation for local parks and green space with a report from Mental Health Foundation finding that nearly half (45%) of people in the UK visited spaces, such as parks, to help them cope.
Workplace Wellbeing and Green Space
The importance of accessing green space should not be undervalued in helping to facilitate employee wellbeing. Every inch of office space can play a role in positively contributing to the mental and physical health and wellbeing of occupiers and employees, regardless of how much space there is. Built up areas can benefit from green walls and green roofs and the subsequent creation of a green view shouldn’t be underestimated in its benefit to employee wellbeing. Although a glimpse of nature through a workplace window is brief, it is sufficient to provide employees with restorative benefits which have a significant positive impact on wellbeing.
On average, 4.3 days per worker are lost due to sick leave associated with mental health issues. However, according to the UK Green Building Council’s report ‘Nature-based solutions to the climate emergency’, exposure to nature can result in health and wellbeing improvements amongst employees. The report highlighted a 23% decrease in sick leave taken by employees with a view of nature and a 15% increase in worker productivity when office spaces are enhanced with plants. Furthermore, employees with views of trees and landscapes took an average of 11 hours less sick leave per year than employees with no view. This equates to an average saving of around £1,600 per employee.
Another study by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, ‘Space to breathe’ focused on three NHS sites that had taken steps to encourage their staff to relax and recharge in green space. Staff stress has long been a critical issue for the NHS, where in 2019 more than four in 10 staff reported feeling unwell due to work-related stress. The study found that gardens and other green spaces at hospital sites have an important role to play in supporting staff wellbeing. Benefits described included feeling relaxed and calm, refreshed and re-energised, and positive effects on mental and physical wellbeing. A high proportion of staff (44-52%) said attractive green spaces were important to them in considering where to work - suggesting that this affects recruitment and retention. Staff who said they regularly spent time in their sites' green spaces during the working day reported significantly higher levels of wellbeing.
Workers Want Green Space
The demand for green space from office workers is rising which was uncovered by Savills 2019 What Workers Want survey. This was notable in all regions but was most apparent in the Thames Valley where 70% of respondents placed a high importance on access to green space. With this in mind, companies are increasingly incorporating green spaces as their environmental focus evolves from simple recycling efforts to a more holistic sustainability approach.
By increasing eco-friendly priorities in the workplace, employers can not only create a greener office, but it can also help to retain and attract new talent and help drive current employee engagement.
There are schemes now available such as the Green Spaces Scheme that have been launched to help businesses to develop beneficial green spaces. The initiative provides businesses with grants of up to £750 to buy the tools and plants to make their very own green space for their employees to enjoy.
Find Your Green Office Space
Connecting with nature includes experiencing the natural world through the physical senses, learning about it, and engaging mindfully with nature. It is associated with a sense of gratitude and self-worth and can help people recover from stress and mental illness. Enjoying time amongst green space also helps to build a sense of place and community and foster feelings of belonging.
With all the positive health benefits of green space, many employees are now more than ever looking to achieve these gains whilst also in the workplace. At Ethical Property, we provide office space that is used in the best interests of the society, planet and economy. Almost all of our centres have a garden or outdoor space and many of our office hubs also benefit from being close to beautiful green spaces and local parks. If you’re a charity/non-profit looking for new working space, get in touch with us at sales@ethicalproperty.co.uk, call us on 0330 016 3440, or visit www.ethicalproperty.co.uk/contact-us.