It’s official: living near nature helps you live longer

There’s a reason we all turned to hot girl walks during lockdown. There’s a reason we relish that first breath of fresh air the moment we step outdoors after working in the same room all day. Us humans need to be outside. Even the biggest of homebodies needs access to fresh air and physical exercise.

Not convinced? Well, listen up. According to research, access to the natural world around us can significantly improve our wellbeing. This isn’t even a new revelation; from ecotherapy to playing sport in the open air, health experts have long understood the benefits of outdoor activity to both our physical and mental health. However, new research is emphasising that having more open, green spaces can be the key to living longer lives.

Over at the University of Glasgow, researchers set out to investigate the causes of premature deaths and how it could be linked to the environment - that is, measuring the gap between life expectancy and how long you actually live. In one community, the study found that where there were 10% more natural spaces – such as parks, woodlands, riversides, etc. – the death rate fell by 7% in those aged under 65.

While this is exciting news, it further confirms the health disparities that exist between communities in terms of access to green space - which can often be mediated by socio-economic status. In 2021, the charity Groundwork published Out of Bounds, an analysis of evidence and recent studies that demonstrates people from urban, lower income areas have less access to open natural spaces. It revealed that low income families are far less likely to live within a 5-minute walk of green spaces – only 46% of those on a household annual income of below £15,000 compared to over 70% of households earning over £35,000. Meanwhile, ultra-urban spaces are a particular concern: rather shockingly, only 21% of London’s residents have access to a personal or shared garden. Ethnic minority communities have been found to be even further marginalised, with almost 40% from ethnic minority backgrounds living in the most green-deprived areas.

With the Glasgow study confirming nature’s life-saving properties, it has never been more important to advocate for greater protection of our wildlife and more eco-friendly, sustainable urbanisation. The saving, expansion or building of something as simple as a park in more working class communities can help to bridge this divisive health gap. That’s why charities like Nature is a Human Right are fighting to ensure we all have more opportunity to experience nature closer to home.

The charity works with local governments and grassroots organisations to raise awareness of our diminishing green spaces, while empowering people to activate their ‘licence to plant’ and green their local areas. Nature is a Human Right has also launched a petition to The United Nations in an effort to make them recognise the situation and help effect real change. You can sign the petition here.