Spending work or leisure time in nature-based settings has positive impacts on health and wellbeing especially for those experiencing stress or those with poorer physical health, mental health or wellbeing. This research examined the impact of participation in a sustainable green infrastructure and landscape management project delivered through Down to Earth at a National Health Service (NHS) hospital site. The three participant groups comprising healthcare staff (n = 27), NHS patients (n = 37) and community participants (n = 22) experienced changes in one or more self-reported measures over time. Patient and community participants showed reductions in self-reported anxiety, boredom and sense of failure. Healthcare staff showed increased resilience, wellbeing, community connection, and connection to nature alongside a reduction in common mental health symptoms. These findings reveal positive impacts of "working in/with nature" on wellbeing and mental health, and provide novel evidence of their potential for improving the health/wellbeing of healthcare workers within their workplace.
Davies et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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