The natural environment

There is significant evidence that exposure to or engagement with some environments can help people recovery more quickly from stress and mental fatigue. Such environments are called restorative environments. Natural environment are more likely to have such restorative properties.

Example projects

Counting birds and bees: promoting wellbeing of older people through engagement with nature-based conservation activities

Start date: January 2021

End date: December 2022

People and nature in a pandemic: Studying nature engagement and wellbeing pre, during and post Covid-19 to support the UK (green) recovery

Start date: July 2020

End date: June 2022

Other example projects

2017 – 2020. Assessing the well-being benefits of saltmarshes in Wales – CoastWEB.

More information: k.wyles@surrey.ac.uk

2007 – 2015: Assessing the potential risk of, and possible responses to, zoonotic diseases on the development of recreational use of British forests and wild-lands.

More information: d.uzzell@surrey.ac.uk

2015: Examining stress reduction among teenagers in an outdoor green space at school.

More information: b.gatersleben@surrey.ac.uk

2015: The healing benefits of listening to bird song.

More information: eleanor.ratcliffe@surrey.ac.uk

2010: Greenery on and around residential buildings.

More information: e.white@surrey.ac.uk