HEA7 - Optimising the health and wellbeing benefits of the natural environment

There is clear evidence that interventions using the natural environment can deliver cost savings for health and health-related services and improve physical and mental health outcomes. So increasing the amount, and more crucially the quality, of green spaces and improving access to them, can be part of a cost-effective package to address health inequalities and improve health outcomes. The Council's 'Stepping Stones to Nature' programme has demonstrated the significant benefits of removing the perceptual and physical barriers to people accessing nature. Engaging people with natural spaces to realise health and wellbeing benefits has now been embedded as standard practice.

Participating in formal sport, as a key part of wider physical activity, can also play an important role in getting and keeping people active and thereby improving their health and wellbeing. Whatever the age, there is evidence that being physically active can help us lead healthier lives. To encourage increasing levels of engagement in outdoor sport the provision of high quality facilities must be an essential part of the growth of a healthy city. A key focus is encouraging those who are currently inactive to become active.