A natural ageing process?

Exposure to natural ‘blue spaces’ in childhood has been linked to improved wellbeing in later life.

An Eu-funded study across 18 countries found that adults with better mental health are more likely to report spending time around rivers, lakes and coastal water when younger.

These individuals also tended to place greater value on natural settings in general, and visit them more as adults.

Report lead author, Dr Valeria Vitale, said: ‘Our findings suggest that building familiarity and confidence in and around blue spaces during childhood may stimulate an inherent joy of nature, and encourage people to seek out recreational nature experiences, with beneficial consequences for adult mental health.’