Walking your way to wealth

A STROLL in the park is the very definition of relaxation, chosen by couples, families and dog walkers every weekend.

But now scientists have found it could even help stave off money worries, making financial troubles seem better.

Nature, researchers from the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow found, helps to ease stress and fatigue. But it works particularly well for the most hard-pressed families, struggling with wage cuts, parttime work or unemployment and feeling the financial pinch.

Ordinarily, people struggling most to pay the bills at the end of each month are the most likely to suffer mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. This creates a gap between the ‘mental wellbeing’ or happiness of the well- off and those struggling to make ends meet.

However, the latest study shows green space can cut this happiness gap by 40 per cent. Professor Jamie Pearce, of the University of Edinburgh, said: ‘Many experiments have identified that contact with nature can be a balm to those who are stressed or fatigued. It seems that the beneficial effects of using green areas are stronger for those under greater levels of financial stress.’

A recent survey found almost two-thirds of Scots are in unsecured debt, including credit cards and overdrafts, with a third expecting to fall further into the red this year.