The key to good health… 2 hours a week with nature

Two hours a week spent in nature is ‘crucial’ to ensuring good mental and physical health, a study claims.

The benefits can be felt regardless of whether people exercise or simply go for a gentle stroll, the research found.

The research analysed data from around 19,800 adults in England and discovered that those who spend at least 120 minutes in nature a week are more likely to report good health and higher psychological wellbeing than those who spend any less time in settings such as town parks, woodlands, country parks and beaches. Study leader Dr Mathew white, of the University of Exeter’s medical school, said: ‘The good news is it doesn’t have to be exercise, it could just be getting out and sitting on a bench.’

The study found it didn’t matter whether the minutes were achieved in a single visit or over several shorter ones. It also found the two-hour minimum applied to both men and women, to older and younger adults, across different occupational and ethnic groups, among those living in both rich and poor areas, and even among people with longterm illnesses or disabilities. But spending more than two hours only led to slight further improvements.

Dr white said: ‘It’s well known that getting outdoors in nature can be good for people’s health and wellbeing but until now we’ve not been able to say how much is enough. The majority of nature visits in this research took place within just two miles of home, so even visiting local urban green spaces seems to be a good thing. Two hours a week is hopefully a realistic target for many people, especially given that it can be spread over an entire week to get the benefit.’ He added that ‘60 or 90 minutes didn’t seem to give the same benefits at all’.

Co-author Professor Terry Hartig, of Uppsala University in Sweden, said: ‘The current findings offer valuable support to health practitioners in making recommendations... to promote basic health and wellbeing.’