*Please note the change of date from 27th Sept to 4th Oct, due to strike action across UK universities*

Healthy Parks and Open Space – the Salutogenic Environment

Catherine Ward Thompson, Professor of Landscape Architecture, Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA), Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh

Wednesday 4th October, 1-2pm, Cottrell LTB3 and streamed on Teams (contact the seminar organiser for the Teams link).
This seminar is open to all staff, students and affiliates of the University of Stirling. The seminar is hosted by Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES). 

Who this may appeal to: This will be of particular interest to those working in healthy environments and sustainable societies as well as those with an interest in ecosystem services. It explores ways in which natural or semi-natural environments, in particular, can offer multiple benefits for human health, and the evidence to support this, including the influence of access to natural environments at different stages in the lifecourse, from childhood to old age.

Abstract: There is good evidence that engaging with green and natural spaces on a regular basis can bring multiple health benefits and reduce health inequalities. The difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the value of being able to visit green and natural environments. This presentation will outline some of the research evidence that underlines the value of access to green space and nature, especially for mental wellbeing, and considers its lifelong importance as part of a salutogenic environment in which people can flourish into healthy old age.

Bio: Catharine Ward Thompson is Professor of Landscape Architecture and Director of OPENspace – the research centre for inclusive access to outdoor environments – at the University of Edinburgh. Her work focuses on inclusive access to outdoor environments and links between landscape and health, especially salutogenic environments. She has led several multidisciplinary research collaborations, including a study of links between green space and mental wellbeing in deprived urban areas. She contributed to WHO’s Urban Green Spaces and Health report and has advised on the Scottish Government’s Place Standard. Current projects include: GroundsWell, where she is part of a UKPRP consortium researching how Urban Green and Blue Space can support wellbeing and reduce disease; and the Advanced Care Research Centre, involving research on ways in which access to the outdoor environment can contribute to healthy ageing.

Contact Information:
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