DOCTOR’S NOTE

SPENDING at least two hours a week in nature may be a crucial threshold for promoting health and wellbeing, according to a study.

Researchers found that people who spend at least 120 minutes in nature a week are significantly more likely to report good health and higher psychological wellbeing than those who do not visit nature at all during an average week.

Experts say taking a walk in the woods, listening to birdsong, looking around and engaging with nature lowers stress and blood pressure. Last year, NHS Shetland became the first to start prescribing nature walks to patients.