The project finds increased awareness of green spaces improves mental health in urban settings, suggesting community involvement is vital.
The Green Walks project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and US National Academy of Medicine, aimed to encourage people to engage with green spaces for improved mental health. Initially, it focused on developing a tool to help people find green spaces within walking distance. However, through the development of a Green View Index in Cambridge, UK, the project found that the main barrier wasn’t distance but rather a lack of awareness of the green spaces that already existed. The project’s focus has since shifted to help people recognize the “green” surrounding them, even in urban environments, through photographic practices, artful interaction, and community engagement.
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Kirk Woolford (2025) studied this question.
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